The Pioneers killed the fourth Edina power play of the game early in the third.  The Hornets are controlling the puck in the Pioneers’ end, but just can’t seem to get the puck into a spot where they can beat Joe Phillippi.

No goals in the second, but there were plenty of chances for the Hornets.  Shots were 15-4 for Edina, but they still can’t find a way to beat Joe Phillippi.  Credit the Hill-Murray senior; he’s done an excellent job controlling rebounds.  I don’t think Edina’s had a single rebound shot in this game.

The Pioneers are mostly depending on the counter-attack for their chances, since they have the speed to pull it off.  It worked in the first - maybe not so much in the second period.

We go into the third with this note: back in late November, guess which teams the Star Tribune’s Dean Spiros picked as the top two in the metro?  You guessed it - Edina and Hill-Murray. 

An improbable goal from the Pioneers’ Ryan Furne ends the first period in the state championship game.  With the crowd yelling “SHOOOOOOT!” as time ticked down, Furne threw a wrister on net from outside the blue line - which somehow found its way through Derrick Caschetta with 0.1 seconds on the clock.

The shot didn’t appear to get deflected or come through a screen - Caschetta just missed it.  Tough goal to give up for the Hornets.

Edina has had trouble figuring out their defensive-zone breakout - they’re sending two forwards deep every time, but Hill-Murray is backchecking and breaking up every long pass attempt.

Shots are 15-9 in favor of the Pioneers, who have had the better chances in the period.

The Pioneers strike early -and that could be an important one.  Ryan Furne picked up a turnover in the neutral zone, faked out a couple of defenders, and beat Derrick Caschetta low on the stick side.

Game on here in St. Paul…

The arena is beginning to fill up for the Class 2A state championship game, here in St. Paul.  We’ve already had some chanting from the students - including a few upper-deck folks that are apparently unattached - and the countdown is on to the Edina vs. Hill-Murray matchup.

Below, I’ve got some keys to this game - as usual, after the jump.

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