TCO Defeats MNHTv 3-2 in Dangle Opener

The second game of opening night in the 2026 Dangle League featured a tightly contested battle between Twin Cities Orthopedics and MNHockeyTV, with Twin Cities Orthopedics surviving a late push to earn a 3-2 victory.

From the opening faceoff, the game featured a crisp pace and strong execution on both sides. Possession was fairly even throughout the night as each team created turnovers, transitioned quickly, and generated quality scoring opportunities in what felt like a playoff-style game despite being the opening night of the season.

Twin Cities Orthopedics struck first at the 27:50 mark of the opening period when Brielle Clardy (Eastview) finished a play created by Maya Dutton and Kate Koschinska (Waconia) to give TCO a 1-0 advantage.

MNHockeyTV answered midway through the period. Geni Nelson (Academy of Holy Angels) found the back of the net at 20:35 with assists going to Annika Eggert (Minnetonka) and Kennedy Keepman (Minnetonka), evening the score at 1-1.

The tie was short-lived.

Twin Cities Orthopedics regained the lead before the end of the period and carried a 2-1 advantage into the intermission, despite a strong opening frame from MNHockeyTV, which outshot TCO 16-14.

Goaltending was a major storyline throughout the evening. Ty Jabs (Minnetonka) was sharp in the opening period for Twin Cities Orthopedics, turning aside 15 of 16 shots. On the other end, Kaia Weiland (Centennial/Spring Lake Park) made 12 saves for MNHockeyTV and kept her team within striking distance.

The second period remained tightly played as both teams continued to battle for possession and limit second-chance opportunities.

Twin Cities Orthopedics eventually extended its lead when Katie Zakrajscheck (Benilde-St. Margaret's) scored just five seconds into a sequence, converting a setup from Mali Carlson (Lakeville North) and Clardy to make it 3-1.

MNHockeyTV refused to go away and answered with a second goal later in the period to cut the deficit to one, setting up a tense finish.

Despite generating 15 second-period shots and finishing the game with a 31-21 advantage in shots on goal, MNHockeyTV could not find the equalizer against the Twin Cities Orthopedics goaltending tandem.

Vivienne Anderson (Orono) took over in goal for TCO in the second period and was outstanding, stopping 14 of 15 shots she faced to preserve the victory. Combined with Jabs' strong first period, the duo turned away 29 of 31 shots in the win.

For MNHockeyTV, Clare Milinkovich (Breck) handled the second-period duties and made six saves while allowing one goal.

In the end, Twin Cities Orthopedics capitalized on its scoring chances and received stellar goaltending to withstand the constant pressure from MNHockeyTV and earn the season-opening victory. Twin Cities Orthopedics improved to 1-0 on the season, while MNHockeyTV dropped a hard-fought opener despite carrying the majority of the shot volume throughout the contest.