Matthew Klassen scored the game-winning goal at 3:01 of the third period to power Duluth Marshall past St. Cloud Cathedral 3-1 in a high school boy’s hockey game Saturday afternoon at Municipal Athletic Complex in St. Cloud, Minn.

Jeremy Lopez and Luke Pavelich also scored and Caden Flaherty stopped 28 of 29 shots for the Hilltoppers.

Duluth Marshall (13-12) plays host to Eveleth-Gilbert in a Section 7A quarterfinal game Thursday at Mars Lakeview Arena.

Section 7A Playoffs

Thursday Quarterfinals
Greenway-Ely winner at No. 1 Duluth Denfeld, 7:30 p.m. Duluth Heritage Sports Center
No. 5 International Falls at No. 4 Virginia-Mt. Iron-Buhl, 7:30 p.m.
No. 7 Eveleth-Gilbert at No. 2 Duluth Marshall, 7:30 p.m. Mars Lakeview Arena
No. 6 North Shore at No. 3 Hibbing-Chisholm, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday Semifinals
At Grand Rapids and Hibbing

Wednesday, Feb. 27 Championship
7:30 p.m. Amsoil Arena

What to Expect in 7A: Is this top-seeded Denfeld’s year to finally win 7A and return to state? Look for a Denfeld-Duluth Marshall final, and picking a winner will be more difficult than getting Jello to stick to a tree. Duluth Marshall will be the premiere high school program in northeastern Minnesota starting in 2013-14, and will the young Hilltoppers begin their run this year? Denfeld is the sentimental favorite. It’s a pick-’em final in 7A. A one-goal final, to be sure.

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Team scoring leader Jack Forbort had a goal and two assists and Dylan Parker had 17 saves as third-ranked Duluth East defeated Tartan 3-0 Saturday afternoon in a high school boy’s hockey game at Tartan Arena in Oakdale, Minn. Meirs Moore and Alex Toscano each added a goal for the Greyhounds, who were 2-for-3 on the power-play and outshot their opponents 39-17.

Duluth East (21-4) meets St. Michael-Albertville in a Section 7AA quarterfinal on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Duluth Heritage Sports Center.

Section 7AA Playoffs

Tuesday Quarterfinals
St. Michael-Albertville at No. 1 Duluth East, 7 p.m. Heritage Center
No. 5 Forest Lake at No. 4 Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 7 p.m.
No. 7 St. Francis at No. 2 Grand Rapids, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Andover at No. 3 Elk River, 7 p.m.

Saturday Semifinals
Noon and 2 p.m., Amsoil Arena

Thursday, Feb. 28 Championship
7:30 p.m., Amsoil Arena

What to Expect in 7AA: Top seed Duluth East has a cakewalk into the finals, and should easily dispatch of St. Michael-Albertville, who they clubbed 6-1 late in the regular season, in a quarterfinal mismatch. Expect Cloquet to edge Forest Lake, but to be embarrassed by Duluth East in the semifinals. The smurf-sized Lumberjacks lack the talent, depth and mental and physical toughness to play with the third-ranked Greyhounds. Look for a Duluth East-Grand Rapids final, with the Greyhounds winning a fifth straight 7AA championship with an impressive third-period rally. East wins 2-1.