UND Sinks Men’s Hockey
Mavs lose pair after taking first game of best-of-three at UND
by Dan Myers
March 21, 2006
Entering its game March 11 at North Dakota, the Minnesota State men’s hockey team had two opportunities to win and gain a trip to the WCHA Final Five in St. Paul. Rob Rankin’s overtime winner in Game 1 was enough to put the Mavs just one win from the program’s third appearance in St. Paul, and first since the 2002-03 season.
UND netminder Jordan Parise took over from there, however, as the Fighting Sioux charged back with 4-1 and 3-0 wins to take the series and end MSU’s season.
Parise, the junior goalie from Faribault, Minn., stopped 57 in the final two games, allowing a single goal and ending the hopes of any Maverick upset.
“In the locker room after Friday’s game, we couldn’t help but think we were one win away from the Final Five,” said Mavericks forward Ryan Carter. “But give Parise credit. We didn’t get many second chances, and he wouldn’t give us a chance to score some of those ugly goals.”
The Mavericks fell behind in all three games, but were able to climb ahead in the first one. MSU trailed for only 35 seconds in the opener, as UND’s Travis Zajac gave the Sioux a 1-0 lead at 5:55 of the second. David Backes responded shortly thereafter at 6:30 and Travis Morin put the Mavs out front with just 29 seconds remaining in the period. UND’s Matt Watkins tied the game at two at 5:22 of the final period, and Mavericks’ netminder Dan Tormey withstood a final Sioux rush before the end of regulation. That set up Rankin, who buried the gamewinner just 3:18 into the extra frame.
But Rankin’s fluttering shot from just inside the blue line was the last gift given to the Mavericks for the weekend.
UND’s T.J. Oshie tallied a air of goals Saturday as the Sioux jumped to a 3-0 lead before winning 4-1. On Sunday, the Mavericks outshot UND 32-22 but could not solve Parise, who stopped every shot en route to his sixth shut out of the season.
“Both teams played well all weekend,” said MSU head coach Troy Jutting. “I think our kids did everything they could. We just couldn’t figure out a way to beat Parise.”