Minnesota Sweeps Men's Hockey
MSU 2, UM 5; MSU 3, UM 4
by Brad Wheeler
October 25, 2005
After being swept by the University of Minnesota this weekend, the Minnesota State hockey team may be relieved that it doesn’t play the Gophers again this season.
Last season, the U of M ended MSU’s season in the playoffs. In their last ten meetings the Gophers are 9-0-1 against the Mavericks. MSU didn’t have to wait to long to get its shot at the “U” as the two teams opened up WCHA league play this weekend.
Friday, junior Chris Clark got the start in net for MSU while Kellen Briggs started in goal for the Gophers. MSU got off to a quick start and led 1-0 when Austin Sutter scored 1:19 into the first period.
With less than a minute left in the first period, the Gophers tied the game, but before the announcer could even let the crowd know who scored, MSU regained the lead.
Maverick forward Brock Becker was all alone in front of the net and received a nice pass from Ryan McKelvie to go into the intermission leading 2-1.
From then on, the only scoring was from the “U” with three goals in the second period, including a penalty shot by freshman Phil Kessel. Kessel almost scored, but MSU defenseman Jon Dubel was called for dislodging the net. Kessel deked out Clark for his first career goal.
“I was a little nervous, but I snuck it in there,” Kessel said. “He almost saved it. I got lucky.”
The Gophers added a goal in the third period to win 5-2. Both teams tallied 33 shots in the game.
“They finished their chances and we didn’t and that was the difference,” MSU head coach Troy Jutting said.
Briggs played solid in net for the Gophers but also credited Clark for MSU as he had the tough task of shutting down the Gophers explosive forwards.
“He played good but we’re a tough team and our guys can shoot the puck really well,” Briggs said.
MSU had good chances against Briggs, including two missed breakaway chances for David Backes. Despite losing, Jutting was very pleased with the team’s effort.
“This might sound stupid after losing 5-2, but I thought it was a great college hockey game,” Jutting said. “Backes isn’t going to miss on two breakaway chances very often. If we play like that and capitalize, we’ll be alright.”
In Saturday’s game, the Gophers scored on their first shot at MSU freshman goalie Mike Zacharias. Zacharias let up three goals in the first period as did Gophers freshman goalie Jeff Frazee.
“It’s human nature for [Zacharias] to be nervous,” Jutting said. “He’s a Minnesota kid and his first start was in this environment. But when he settled down I thought he played really well.”
The first period was a fast paced offensive shootout. MSU got goals from Joel Hanson, Travis Morin and Ryan Carter.
Morin sniped a shot from the slot to put MSU up 2-1, but the Mavs held the lead for only seven seconds as the Gophers marched down the ice and tied the game. Less than two minutes later, the Gophers took the lead. Minnesota held the lead until Carter tied it for MSU with a hard one-timer on the power play with less than two minutes left in the first period.
The Gophers scored the only goal of the second period when defenseman Alex Goligoski rushed to the net to bang home a rebound.
In the third period, the Mavericks had a five minute power play after Rob Rankin was checked from behind. MSU couldn’t capitalize on the power play and the Gophers held on to win 4-3.
Gophers head coach Don Lucia had nothing but compliments for MSU.
“They played extremely tough all weekend long and they’ll continue to get better,” Lucia said. “I’m glad we’re finished with them the rest of the season,” .
Although MSU didn’t earn any points in the standings, the series was a building block for the Mavericks and Jutting.
“I’m frustrated. We played to competitive games and didn’t get a win but we made a ton of improvements from last weekend and it’s still very early in the season,” Jutting said. “We gave enough effort and I told our guys if we compete like this all year, we’ll be alright.”