Mavs' scoring slump continues

By Shane Frederick
Free Press Staff Writer

Troy Jutting said his team had one of its better series openers Friday night, but the Minnesota State men's hockey team's scoring slump continued as it tied Michigan Tech 1-1 at Houghton, Mich.

The Mavericks outshot the Huskies 38-37. But they also hit a post and two crossbars, including one in overtime.

"I thought we played well," Jutting said in a phone interview afterwards. "I thought we took it to them most of the night."

Playing against one of the hottest teams and one of the hottest goaltenders in the WCHA, Minnesota State recorded its third tie in five games.

The Huskies, who had just one win before Jan. 1, are now 6-3-1 in the new year. Goalie Cam Ellsworth has stopped 126 of 131 shots in their last three games.

MSU's Chris Clark matched Ellsworth Friday, as the game was scoreless for two periods.

MSU's Brad Thompson finally broke the ice at 2:21 of the third period, getting assists from Adam Gerlach and Jeff Marler.

The Huskies pulled Ellsworth with 1:17 remaining in the third and scored the game-tying goal with 50 seconds to go.

After the Mavericks iced the puck, Tech's Colin Murphy scored from the point off a faceoff, shooting the puck through traffic to beat Clark.

In overtime, MSU senior Adam Gerlach beat Ellsworth but his shot rang off the crossbar.

"We had our opportunities," Jutting said.

The Mavericks (9-14-6, 6-13-4) and Huskies (7-19-2, 6-16-1) will complete the series at 4:07 p.m. today. The early start is due to Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival celebration.

Minnesota State 0-0-1-0-1

Michigan Tech 0-0-1-0-1

First Period

Scoring

None

Penalties

• Rankin, MSU (holding) 9:39
• Batovanja, MTU (elbowing) 9:39
• Scott, MTU (holding) 16:24

Second Period

Scoring

None

Penalties

• Hanson, MSU (slashing) 2:48
• Scott, MTU (roughing) 8:29
• Desmet, MTU (holding) 12:09
• Morin, MSU (high-sticking) 16:48
• Rankin, MSU (unsportsmanlike conduct) 17:16
• Shelast, MTU (slashing) 17:16

Third Period

Scoring

1. MSU-Thompson 7 (Gelrach, Marler) 2:21
2. MTU-Murphy 10 (Desmet) 19:10.

Penalties

• Morin, MSU (double minor-roughing) 8:26
• Dubel, MSU (double minor-roughing, 10-minute misconduct) 8:26
• Brownlee, MSU (roughing) 8:26; Kerr, MTU (double minor-roughing) 8:26
• Batovanja, MTU (slashing, double minor-roughing) 8:26

Overtime

Scoring

None

Penalties

• Helminen, MTU (slashing) 5:00

Summaries

Shots on goal

• MSU 16-12-9-1-38
• MTU 10-12-15-0-37

Penalties

• MSU 10 for 28 minutes
• MTU 11 for 22 minutes

Power-play opportunities

• MSU 0 for 3
• MTU 0 for 2

Attendance

• 3,396

Referee

• Derek Shepherd

Assistant referees

• Sean Jacques
• Joe Romano