SUPERIOR, Wis. – After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Superior Showdown, sponsored by Subway, returned to Wessman Arena Thursday. The Yellowjackets took on Marian in the second of two games Thursday, a team they faced November 23, with Marian getting the 3-2 win thanks to a goal with 1:12 to play in regulation.
 
There were late fireworks again Thursday, but this time they involved a shootout, after 65 minutes of play decided nothing.
 
The 'Jackets held a 2-1 lead after two periods, but Marian scored just 22 seconds into the third period to tie the game. The game went to overtime, and despite having a power play and a 6-0 edge in shots, the Yellowjackets couldn't get the game winner and were forced to settle for a 2-2 tie at Wessman Arena.
 
Marian, who has won the Superior Showdown twice, advances to Friday's championship game after winning the shootout 1-0. They will take on Aurora University, who also reached the championship game via the shootout. The Spartans and St. Scholastica tied 2-2 after 65 minutes, and Aurora advanced with a 2-0 win in the shootout.
 
Marian goaltender Colby Muise stole the show Thursday, finishing the game with 37 saves, including 18 in the third period and overtime, setting his team up to advance.
 
After a scoreless first period the Yellowjackets broke the ice with a power play goal at 7:57 of the second period. Dylan Johnson (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet Senior), who missed the last game due to injury, returned to the lineup with a flourish, scoring his team-best ninth goal of the year on a shot from the right circle to make it 1-0. Levi Cudmore (Park River, N.D./Park River) and Chad Lopez (Arlington, Texas/University of Texas) assisted.
 
Marian had an answer a short time later. With a lot of traffic in front of Yellowjacket goaltender Landon Pavlisin (San Clemente, Calif./Pacific Coast), Brady Pupp took a wrist shot from the right point that beat Pavlisin on the glove side, tying the game 1-1 at 12:28 of the period.
 
The Yellowjackets regained the lead late in the second off a faceoff. Troy Quinn (Nepean, Ontario/St. Paul's Catholic) patiently held the puck at the left point and once the shooting lane opened up let a shot go that Jordan Martin (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Vincent Massey Collegiate) deflected past Muise for his second of the year, putting the Yellowjackets in front with 1:05 to go in the period.
 
On the first shift of the third period Marian again pulled even. Nick Cherkowski made the play with an end-to-end rush, weaving his way into the Yellowjacket into the zone and firing a point-blank shot that was stopped by Pavlisin. Austin Nault picked up the rebound and scored his first of the year to make it 2-2.

Later in the period the Yellowjackets got into penalty trouble, and they gave Marian 51 seconds of 5-on-3 hockey, but the penalty kill came through in fine style, keeping the game tied.
 
In the overtime, with 2:07 to go, Marian was called for too many skaters, giving the Yellowjackets a 4-on-3 power play, but Muise was there time and again to deny the Yellowjackets, preserving the tie.
 
At the end of overtime the teams went to the shootout, but the struggles continued for the Yellowjackets. In the first shootout of the season, the Yellowjackets went 0-for-5. This time around, they were scoreless in three chances and Mason Richey ended it for Marian, beating Pavlisin between the pads, sending them to the championship.
 
Marian and Aurora will play for the Superior Showdown title tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. In the first game of the day Friday, the Yellojackets will take on St. Scholastica. It's the second meeting of the season between the longtime rivals, with the Yellowjackets winning the first meeting 7-0 at Mars Lakeview Arena in Duluth Oct. 30. The teams will faceoff Friday at Wessman Arena beginning at 3 p.m.