Game Preview: Duluth East vs. Forest Lake – January 14, 2025
Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 7:00 PM,
Forest Lake Sports Center, Forest Lake, MN
The Duluth East Greyhounds (2-12-0) are enduring a tough season so far, with only two wins in their first 14 games. Most recently, they suffered a 4-0 loss to Chanhassen on January 4, adding to their frustrations. Despite their struggles, Duluth East has shown flashes of potential throughout the season, particularly on the offensive side, where they average 1.93 goals per game. However, they’ve faced difficulty in converting chances consistently, and their defense has allowed 4.50 goals per game, which has contributed heavily to their current record.
The Greyhounds will need strong performances from their key players to have a chance in this matchup. Caden Cole (7 goals, 14 points) has been the team’s most consistent offensive player, and will likely be called upon to lead the charge against Forest Lake. Kyle Peterson (5 goals, 13 points) and Marccus Anttila (10 points) will also need to step up to provide secondary scoring. In goal, Nolan Nygaard (4.11 GAA, .886 SV%) has faced a lot of pressure and will need to be sharp if Duluth East hopes to stay in the game.
Duluth East has yet to find its rhythm this season, but they’ll need to elevate their play to match Forest Lake’s offensive firepower.
Key Players:
The Forest Lake Rangers (7-8-0) are coming off a tough 5-3 loss to Roseville on January 11, but they have generally been more competitive this season compared to Duluth East. With an average of 4.47 goals per game, the Rangers have been a much stronger offensive team, led by Maverick McKinnon (15 goals, 32 points), who is one of the top goal-scorers in the state. He will be crucial in breaking through the Duluth East defense. Alongside him, players like Colton Horak (7 goals, 24 points) and Blake Jacobson (7 goals, 20 points) will be key in generating offense.
On the defensive side, Forest Lake has been more solid than Duluth East, allowing 3.47 goals per game, but they still have room to improve in order to shut down high-powered offenses like Duluth East’s when it matters. Zachary Schnabel (3.40 GAA, .877 SV%) has been the goaltender of record and will need to make key saves, especially as Forest Lake’s offense looks to carry them forward.
The Rangers will be hoping to bounce back from their loss to Roseville and should enter this game with a strong belief that they can get back on track, particularly with their offensive weapons at the forefront.
Key Players:
When comparing the two teams, the Forest Lake Rangers have a clear advantage in terms of offensive output, averaging more than 4 goals per game, while Duluth East has struggled to generate consistent offense. Forest Lake’s top scorer, McKinnon, has the potential to dominate this matchup, particularly against a Duluth East defense that has been struggling this season. In contrast, Duluth East’s attack has been reliant on a handful of players, and they’ll need an all-around effort to keep up with Forest Lake’s depth.
Defensively, both teams have had their issues, but Forest Lake’s Schnabel has been more consistent in goal than Duluth East’s options, and that could be the difference-maker. With both teams allowing over 3 goals per game, this game is likely to see a fair amount of back-and-forth action, but Forest Lake’s offense should eventually overpower the Greyhounds’ defense.
