The No. 3-ranked Gophers women’s hockey team wore the alternate uniforms it debuted at the outdoor game on Hockey Day Minnesota when it faced the No. 11 St. Cloud State Huskies on Friday night at Ridder Arena, perhaps serving as a reminder that hockey can actually be fun.

The Gophers were in anything but a joyful mood at puck drop, having lost their previous three games in blowout fashion, and it only got worse early in the first period when they found themselves down 2-0. While it proved to be a struggle, the Gophers found a way to battle back, tying the game at 2-2 with a power-play goal midway through the third period.

However, the Huskies outscored the Gophers 2-1 in a frenzied final 3 minutes, 45 seconds to pick up a 4-3 victory.

“They found a way to win and we found a way to lose,” Gophers coach Brad Frost said. For the Gophers, who lost at home to No. 2 Ohio State 7-3 before being swept at No. 1 Wisconsin — 8-2 and 6-1 — last weekend, this loss hurts in a different way. They play the Huskies again on Saturday in St. Cloud, and the term “having a short memory” would seem to be in play.

That was Frost’s expectation for his team heading into Friday’s game, but the Huskies took it to the Gophers from the opening faceoff.

“After last weekend,” Frost said, “you would have thought we would start on time.”

The mistakes — many of them uncharacteristic of the Gophers — carried on throughout the game, including on the game-winning goal.

“Missing passes, over-committing to things, giving up breakaways, penalties, it was all those things,” Frost said.

The Huskies took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission, but the Gophers struck quickly in the second period with Emma Kreisz scoring at 1:06, as she beat Huskies goaltender Emilia Krykko on a wrist shot from the right-wing circle.

The Huskies held the 2-1 lead until 10:51 of the third period when Ava Lindsay’s wrist shot from along the extended goal line found the net just under the cross bar.

St. Cloud’s Sofianna Sundelin scored her second goal of the game at 16:45 after getting in alone behind the Gophers’ defense.

Matching roughing penalties at 18:09 created a four-on-four situation, and Frost elected to pull goaltender Hannah Clark with the faceoff in the Huskies’ zone.

Gophers senior center Ella Huber banged in a rebound from just off the crease to tie the game at 18:31. Huskies coach Brian Idalski challenged the play, claiming goaltender interference, but the goal stood.

The Huskies needed less than a minute to collect the game-winning goal. Clark made a stop on a clear breakaway with 40 seconds to play. But the puck remained in the Gophers’ zone, and Ella Anick beat Clark on a wrist shot from high in the slot at 19:29.

The Gophers were without graduate student forward Natalie Mlynkova, who missed her second straight game due to an undisclosed injury. Mlynkova is tied for second on the team in goals with 13.

Frost said it is unknown how long she will be sidelined. The Gophers not only could have used her scoring touch Friday night, but also her leadership and experience in what it takes to fight through tough times.

And indeed, these are tough times.

Ironically, they come right after the Gophers played their best game of the season, beating Ohio State 3-1. It remains to be seen how fragile the Gophers have become due to the outcome of the last four games.

“It’s a pivotal time for us,” Frost said. “What are we going to be? We’ve got to decide that and then play to our standards.

“Too many mistakes at this point in February to accomplish what we want to accomplish.”