Perhaps the most compelling match-up of Hockey Day Minnesota features a rematch of last year's Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament finalists Lakeville North and Duluth East. Last March, the suburban Lakeville North squad defeated the now-hometown Duluth East 4-1 at the Xcel Energy Center to capture the state title and complete their perfect season. This marks the first time the teams have met since that game, and the tables have changed as the game has moved north to Bayfront Park.
Both teams fortunes have changed somewhat this season, but both are still ranked in the top 20 of LetsPlayHockey.