MINNEAPOLIS - Brett Olson skated around two defenders and beat Minnesota goaltender Kent Patterson 33 seconds into overtime to lift Michigan Tech to a 3-2 upset of the No. 2-ranked Gophers tonight at Mariucci Arena. The senior captain took the puck from outside the zone and raced through the left circle to notch the game-winner.

"I was in the right place at the right time," said Olson, who increased his team point lead 18. "Our guys got it up the ice, and it turned into a foot race. It was able to get around their defense.

"It's a great feeling getting the game winner in my last series here. But more importantly it was good for the team. We needed this."

The win snapped a two-game skid for the Huskies and pushed their record to 9-7-1 overall and 6-6-1 in the WCHA. The Gophers fell to 13-5-1 and 10-3-0 in league play, suffering their first WCHA home loss.

The game was close affair throughout as neither team held more than a one-goal lead. Both goaltenders played phenomenal games. Josh Robinson made 34 saves while Patterson had 23. It was 1-1 after one period and scoreless in the second period before both teams tallied a marker in the third to head to overtime.

"I thought it was our best all-around game this season," said head coach Mel Pearson, who remained undefeated against Big Ten teams this year at 3-0. "Robinson played a great game. His save on a breakaway late in the third period was a huge play for us."

With the score tied 2-2 and eight minutes remaining, each team was called for a penalty leading to four-on-four play for two minutes.

Both teams generated grade A scoring chances. Robinson saved a clean breakaway by Nate Condon early in the four-on-four. Later, it was Patterson stoning Blake Pietila on a breakaway to keep the score tied.

All four goals in regulation were deflected off the initial shot before going into the goal. Minnesota's Mark Alt opened scoring with a shot from the right point that bounced off a defenseman's shin pad past Robinson at the 10:22 mark.

Pietila knotted the game six minutes later as he won possession of the puck behind the goal and sent it out front. It caromed off a Gopher player and scooted by Patterson.

The hosts held a 14-5 advantage in shots on goal in the second period, although several good scoring chances came for both teams. Tech killed off two straight penalties including 10 seconds of a five-on-three in the frame. The Black and Gold earned a power play opportunity with 34 seconds remaining before the intermission.

Steven Seigo made the man advantage pay off to start the third period with a shot from the point that deflected in front of Patterson. Ryan Furne and David Johnstone earned assists on the play.

The one-goal lead only lasted for six minutes as the Gophers got a similar goal. They won the faceoff and shot one from the blue line that hit a Tech defender's stick before sailing into the goal. Shots in the final frame were 12-10 in favor of Minnesota.

Olson ended the game 33 seconds into the extra session, helping the Huskies improve to 3-0-1 in overtime games.

"The first thing I told the guys is that I wasn't surprised by this win," said Pearson. "I see every day how hard they work and how talented they are. They deserved this one."

Michigan Tech and Minnesota will wrap up their two-game series tomorrow at Mariucci Arena. Faceoff is set for 9:07 p.m. ET/8:07 p.m. CT.