Oilers Chick
01-25-2004, 04:26 AM
NORTH DAKOTA vs. MINNESOTA (FRIDAY, 1/23):
The long-awaited re-match at Mariucci Arena featured just about everything, including an hour and 10 minute delay due to a huge divot of ice that had to be removed just behind and to the left of the net that UND defended in the 1st and 3rd periods.
The opening faceoff was also delayed because a fan threw an object on the ice. When the game did finally get underway it made for some exciting, high-intensity, high-energy play. This game featured alot of great matchups, including the Keith Ballard-Zach Parise/Brady Murray and Matt Greene/Tomas Vanek matchups that alone were well worth the price of admission to watch and follow. Noticeably different for UND as far as lineups went was their “money line” of Brady Murray (LA) – Zach Parise (NJ) – Brandon Bochenski (OTT) was broken up. Murray and Parise played the game with junior Quinn Fylling on the line, while Bochenski was assigned to play with junior Colby Genoway and freshman Chris Porter (CHI). It didn’t matter because these two lines were sensational for UND pretty much the entire game. For Minnesota, the Jon Waibel – Barry Tallackson (NJ) – Garret Smaagaard line, which worked so well in the series versus Minnesota State-Mankato last weekend was back together again. Tomas Vanek (BUF), whose been on a line centered by Matt Koalska (NSH) for much of the season, got a new centerman to play along side in freshman Danny Irmen (MIN) with junior Jake Fleming covering the right wing position. Both of these lines were also quite good for Minnesota in the game. At the 5:26 mark, UND defenseman junior Matt Jones (PHX) would be assessed the first penalty of the game on a slashing. Minnesota, who had the top ranked power play in the nation coming into tonight’s game, went to work. UND with some aggressive defensive play managed to kill of the penalty successfully. At the 8:03 mark, Parise would get the Fighting Sioux on the board first. The play began with a turnover in the UND zone by Fleming, thanks to some excellent forechecking by Bochenski. UND Freshman Drew Stafford is there to gain puck possession and proceeds to skate into the Minnesota zone with Parise on a 2-on-1. Once there, Stafford takes the shot on goal and Gophers freshman netminder Kellen Briggs is there for the save, but gives up a rebound. Parise then darts towards the net to pick up the rebound by beating Minnesota defender, sophomore defenseman Peter Kennedy to the puck to flip it past Briggs for the score. Kennedy, who made a poor defensive play on Parise, made an even worse attempt at trying to poke check away the puck before Parise could get to it. Stafford would draw the lone assist on Parise’s goal. UND is a perfect 10-0-0 when scoring first. The things got chippy throughout the game, and many penalties were called as a result. At the 14:29 mark, Tallackson and UND junior Brian Canady would be sent off for matching roughing minors, however Canady would be assessed an extra two for a boarding call. Once again Minnesota was on the power play and once again UND was quite effective in shutting it down. However, UND would start to get into some penalty trouble that would prove costly. After sophomore defenseman Matt Greene (EDM) received a cross-checking call at 16:25, the Fighting Sioux found themselves short-handed even more when sophomore Mike Prpich would be called for high-sticking at 16:44, giving the Gophers a 5-on-3 advantage. UND would make it a 5-on-4 after Greene’s penalty had expired. At the 17:44 mark, the Gophers would finally hit pay dirt on the power play. It began with some nice passing by Minnesota. Senior Matt Koalska (NSH) makes a nice pass from near the corner boards to Vanek, who is parked in the high slot area near the right faceoff circle. Vanek fires a perfect (diagonal) cross-ice, tape to tape pass to team captain, senior Grant Potulny (OTT) who was parked just to the left of the UND net. Potulny then proceeds to slide it behind Fight Sioux netminder, junior Jake Brandt for the score. Vanek and Koalska would draw the assists. With the power play goal, Minnesota extended its consecutive game streak of scoring power play goals to 11. Near the end of the period, a scrum ensued over on the left boards as the Gophers’ towering freshman defenseman Jake Taylor (NYR) took and held down Fighting Sioux freshman Brady Murray (LA). As the referees got over to try and ply Taylor off of Murray, UND junior defenseman Andy Schneider (PIT) came to the aid of his teammate, getting into Taylor’s face and exchanging some not-so-kind words with him. From there, a crowd gathers before the referees dished out the penalties. Schneider and Murray would both be assessed roughing minors whiel Taylor would be assessed a double-minor for rough and a holding call. Schneider and Taylor kept yapping at one another on the way to and in their resepctive penalty boxes. All the penalties came at the 19:23 mark. As the penalties were being handed out, a large divot of ice had to be repaired before play could resume with 37 seconds left in the opening period. It would be a long while before play would resume.
After a delay of one hour and10 minutes, the first period resumed and was completed. Since both teams had to leave the ice for an extended period of time so the ice could be repaired, the 2nd period began almost immediately after the remainder of the first period had been completed. The slowed pace to start didn’t last long as the high-tempo play began to pick up rather quickly once again. At around the 3 minute mark of the 2nd period, one of the best hits of the game occured when Matt Greene levelled Tomas Vanek near the UND net. Vanek was no worse for wear on the hit, picked himself up and jumped right back into the play. A little later, arguably the best defensive play of the occured when Gophers defenseman, junior Keith Ballard (COL) got back to break up a pass that Fylling was trying to make to Parise on a potential 3-on1 situation. Ballard intercepted Fylling’s pass and flung the puck at the sideboards. It rebounds towards Irmen who just misses getting a stick on it. Instead, Matt Greene gains possession and passes to an incoming Zach Parise who couldn’t control it just outside the UND blueline. Jake Fleming is there to corral the puck then moves in from the left faceoff circle. He spots Vanek coming in toward the right side of the net and patiently waits until Vanek is in a good shotting position before passinng it off to him. Vanek takes Fleming’s perfect feed and slides it in just behind a sprawling Jake Brandt for the score. Junior defenseman Matt Jones (PHX) made a poor defensive coverage play on Vanek, which enable Vanek to not only get his stick on the pass, but to also get the go-ahead goal at 6:20. Fleming would draw the lone assist. As the period progressed, both team were guilty of giving up several odd-man rushes and both goaltenders had to come up big for their respective teams as a result. Minnesota freshman netminder Kellen Briggs made a dynamite save and clear on a 3-on-0 rush by UND in the latter stages of the period.
The 3rd period saw Minnesota get into penalty trouble and it prove to be their downfall. North Dakota who is one of, if not the best 3rd period team in the nation would capitalise on some of the Gophers’ short-handed situations. The first opportunity came at the 23 second mark when Minnesota centerman, sophomore Gino Guyer runs into then knocks down UND netminder Brandt just behind the right side of the UND net. Guyer would be assessed an interference (running into the goalie) call putting the Fighting Sioux on the power play. Nothing would come of the power play for UND, as the Gophers were relentless in their penalty killing, forcing some turnovers that led to some odd-man, short-handed chances for them. As the period progressed puck possession changed almost constantly as each team was very good in their checking and relentless pursuit of the puck. At the 4:44 mark, the Gophers would give North Dakota another shot at the power play thanks to a holding call on Gophers defenseman, junior Judd Stevens. This time, the Fighting Sioux would make the Gophers pay. At the 5:54 mark, junior Brandon Bochenski would get the equalizer. Bochenski starts the play by bringing in the puck himself into the Minnesota zone. He then dishes the puck off to defenseman Matt Jones, who has a little trouble corraling the bouncing puck. Jones then steers the puck towards the right corner boards, then leaves it for Bochenski on a nice puck support play. Bochenski then gains possession and sees some daylight between Briggs and the right post. He proceeds to launch the shot from the right faceoff circle that goes into the net, just inside the right post. Gophers defenseman Keith Ballard ended up screening the shot as he went down to make an attempt to block the shot. Matt Jones would be credited with the lone assist on Bochenski’s power play tally. Later in the period, Minnesota forward, senior Jon Waibel would be called for a rough at 9:56, putting the Fighting Sioux on the power play again. Again, it would be a costly penalty for Minnesota. At the 10:44 mark, UND freshman forward Chris Porter would tally what would be the eventual game-winning goal. Jake Fleming wins the draw for Minnesota and the puck ends up over around the corner boards. A battle for puck possession ensues along the boards. The puck comes out towards UND defenseman junior Nick Fuher, but it is Porter who gains possession. Porter does a nice job of backing up to the center area of the Minnesota blueline to find a shooting lane. He shifts from his backhand to forehand to launch a slapshot at the Gophers net. Gophers defenseman Jake Taylor and UND forward senior David Lundbohm were jostling for positioning in front of Briggs, who ended up being screened on the play. Porter’s shot goes throigh Taylor’s legs and just by the left side of Briggs for the score. Porter’s tally was unassisted. After Porter’s go-ahead tally, UND had a little more spring in their step. At the 16:51 mark, UND defenseman Matt Greene would take a bad penalty that would give Minnesota a chance to tie up the game. Greene, who got into a tussle with Keith Ballard near the UND bench, ends up darn near shoving Ballard’s head into the boards and then into the UND bench. Greene would earn a boarding for it. However, UND stuck to their defensive guns and effectively shut down the Gophers potent power play. As Greene’s penalty was about to expire, the Gophers had pulled Briggs for the extra attacker. With the net empty at Minnesota’s end, the Fighting Sioux was looking to put the final nail in the Gophers coffin in this game. At 19:00 mark, UND sophomore Mike Prpich did just that. It starts with UND defenseman Andy Schneider getting the loose puck from behind the UND net. Schneider then fires it around the boards. Greene, fresh out of the penalty box, was parked at the right sideboards near the UND blueline to receive the puck. He proceeds to shovel it ahead to an omcoming Prpich who skates along the sideboards, cuts in and wrists it into the empty net for the score. Greene and Schneider would be credited with the assists.
What won the game for UND was their ability to capitalise on their opportunities and matching their opponent’s intensity. What lost the game for Minnesota was their inability to stay out of penalty trouble in the 3rd period. For Minnesota, this game was quite a departure from the performance that the Gophers showed in the earlier series at Engelstad. The Gophers took it to the Fighting Sioux much of the game. Both teams were able to roll four very good lines and each team possesses some talented and punshing defensemen. For Minnesota the play of Danny Irmen, Jake Taylor and especially Keith Ballard was exceptional tonight. For North Dakota, Andy Schneider, Matt Greene and Zach Parise were all excellent. One player who played particularly well for UND was Chris Porter, who seems to have had alot of energy and jump playing along side Brandon Bochenski. Both netminders were sharp when they had to be and made some stellar saves.
The series concludes tomorrow night at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.
NORTH DAKOTA vs. MINNESOTA (SATURDAY, 1/24):
The second game of this series featured some very high-energy, high-intensity and high-flying play by both teams. However, the outcome would be very different.
UND made several lineup changes for tonight’s game. Freshman (and older Parise brother) Jordan Parise got the start over Jake Brandt. Parise is undefeated coming into tonight’s game (9-0-2). On the UND 4th line, in were: sophomore Lee Marvin and seniorm Ryan Hale. Hale had just finished serving his one-game suspension after receiving a game-disqualification penalty for a fight that he got into last weekend with towering (6’7) defenseman John Scott in the series versus Michigan Tech. Both teams came out flying, particularly UND. At the 3:53 mark, UND would be assessed the first penalty of the game as freshman Chris Porter (CHI) would be off for a slash, putting Minnesota on the power play. The UND penalty kill was relentless as they effectively killed it off. As the period progressed, Minnesota was guilty of some sloppy play that created some excellent scoring chances for UND and forced Minnesota netminder, freshman Kellen Briggs to come up with some bigtime saves. One of the saves he was forced to make was a nice play by sophomore Zach Parise (NJ) who got the puck that had ricocheted off of the lively backboards at Mariucci Arena.
There was no shortage of rough stuff and confrontations in this game. Around the 11 minute mark, UND freshman Drew Stafford decides to give towering Minnesota freshman defenseman Jake Taylor a nice little shot to his chops from behind. Taylor turns to Stafford, who decides to skate away rather have any further of a confrontation with the 6’4 defenseman, and at the 8:44 mark, both players would be assessed matching minors.
At the 10:05 mark, senior David Lundbohm would get the Fighting Sioux on the board first, once again. The play starts when freshman Brady Murray (LA) retrieves the puck from the sideboards and skates into the Minnesota zone. He dishes off to Lundbohm who is skating in toward Briggs one-on-one. He puts a nice deke on Briggs to get him to commit first, then proceeds to flip the puck into the net, going top-shelf left side. Gophers defenseman, junior Keith Ballard (COL) was late getting to Lundbohm, which help create the chance for Lundbohm. Murray would be credited with the lone assist on the goal. Later, just past the halfway point of the period, Gophers senior Barry Tallackson (NJ) goes crashing towards the UND net to get a shot away. Jordan Parise is there for the save, however he gives up a tiny rebound which gets a quick whistle much to the chagrin of the Gophers players: Tallackson, Waibel and Smaagaard who were fishing for the loose puck. Soon thereafter, a crowd gathers behind the UND net with play stopped. Minnesota senior Jon Waibel and UND towering freshman defenseman Matt Smaby (TB) get into a heated shoving match that results in both players wrestling each other on the ice. Both players would draw roughing minors. However, Waibel got an extra two for unsportsmanlike conduct. In addition, UND senior David Lundbohm would also be called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, nullifying any UND power play. From there the intensity would pick up as several shoving matches broke out until the period end. A continuation of one of the marquee player matchups from last night between Minnesota defenseman, junior Keith Ballard (COL) and UND sophomore Zach Parise (NJ), saw Ballard haul down Parise who was breaking into the Minnesota zone on an offensive rush, that earned Ballard a holding call and a trip to the penalty box late in the period.
The 2nd period saw UND with the momentum early and winning the battles to loose pucks. The Gophers however, were equally if not more aggressive in their play tonight than thet were last night. At the 3:08 mark, that aggressiveness would pay off for Minnesota. It begins with a turnover by UND sophomore defenseman Matt Greene (EDM). Greene was forced to get rid of the puck by sending it around the boards, thanks to some aggressive forechecking by sophomore Tomas Vanek (BUF). As Greene attempted to get rid of the puck, Gophers forward, junior Jake Fleming was there to intercept it behind the UND net. He dishes it off to an incoming Danny Irmen (MIN), who fans on his first shot attempt, then retrieves the puck again and proceeds to backhand a shot that slides by UND netminder Jordan Parise, just inside the right post for the score. Fleming would draw the lone assist on Irmen’s goal.
One area that plagued Minnesota much of the night was their inability to capitalise on scoring opportunities that presented themselves. Too often, the Gophers passing was mediocre to downright awful at times and other times it was a case of simply misfiring the puck. One such play occured around the six-minute mark of the period, where Tomas Vanek had done an excellent job of moving around UND defenseman junior Andy Schneider (PIT) then dishing to Irmen, only to have Irmen not be able to get it by a sprawling and out of position Jordan Parise. With Parise down, Irmen had the entire top half of the net to shoot at staring him right in the face. As the momentum of the game began swinging in Minnesota’s favour, so did the physical play. Already in the game, Schneider had given Gophers senior Troy Riddle (STL) a good jolt, while UND sophomore defenseman Matt Greene just pasted Gophers sophomore Andy Sertich (PIT) along the sideboards. At the 10:15 mark, UND sophomore Mike Prpich would be assessed a minor for elbowing that could’ve easily gotten him a game-misconduct but didn’t. It was a play that happened around the left sideboards, where Gophers defenseman Jake Taylor (NYR) is digging to gain puck possession. Taylor has his back to the ice when Prpich comes flying in on Taylor and gives him an elbow shot to the back of his head that looked alot worse than it actually was. From there, the nastiness started to get really ugly as players’ sticks were getting up and the referees were letting things go. While on the power play, Minnesota players were subjected to several situations where penalties could have or should have been called. The most blatant one was when UND netminder Jordan Parise clearly trips up Minnesota sophomore Gino Guyer (DAL) who was momentarily parked in just to the left side of the UND crease. Parise then decides to take Guyer’s feet out from under him. Fortunatelly for Parise and UND, no penalty was assessed. At the 12:41 mark, Prpich and Waibel get together to exchange a few shoves and words before being sent off on matching roughing minors. A few minutes later it was UND junior Rory McMahon and Minnesota sophomore defenseman P. J. Atherton (TB) getting together. They would each earn a double minor for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct. A few moments after that it was Lundbohm and Tallackson exchanging a couple of pokes at each other, but no penalties resulted. The Gophers aggressive play, physically and otherwise would start to wear on the Fighting Sioux. When things settled down a bit, the Gophers would continue to be aggressive in their forechecking and puck pursuit. At the 16:36 mark, that aggressiveness would once again pay off. It starts with a turnover in the UND zone by freshman Drew Stafford. Stafford makes a passing attempt to Zach Parise, only to have it broken up by Minnesota sophomore defenseman Chris Harrington. Harrington then dishes it off to senior Matt Koalska (NSH). Koalska then proceeds to shoot the puck to the sideboards. Senior Troy Riddle (STL) who had originally came into the Minnesota zone to help out on the defensive play, makes an excellent transition move to gain puck possession and skates down the sideboards back into the UND zone. Riddle gets all the way back behind the UND goal line before feathering a pass to an incoming Koalska, who’s between the faceoff circles. Koalska proceeds to fire a wrister at the UND net, that gets by a downed Jordan Parise. Koalska’s shot looked like it may have been defected off of Parise’s right pad and into the net. Riddle did an excellent job of fending off UND junior defenseman Matt Jones (PHX) to get the pass off, while Koalska was able to beat freshman Drew Stafford for the loose puck that Riddle had passed off. Riddle would draw the lone assist on Koalska’s goal. Minnesota was now up 2-1. As the period ended, momentum was clearly on Minnesota’s side.
The final began with Minnesota captain, senior Grant Potulny (OTT), not on the bench. It was not known if he was to return or why he wasn’t starting the 3rd period with the team. Minnesota was taking control of the game and in the process frustrating the Fighting Sioux. At the 3:26 mark, junior Colby Genoway decides to take a matter into his own hands by delivering a cross-check to the chops of Gophers sophomore Chris Harrington, earning him a trip to the penalty box. Minnesota didn’t have any success on their power plays so far tonight and this time would be no different. UND’s penalty killing was excellent all night. UND saw their chance to tie up the score when Minnesota started to make some mistakes in their puck possession. However, nothing would materialise in the form of a goal scored for UND. Things continued to be chippy. At the 8:51 mark, Koalska would be called for Goaltender Interference after bumping into Jordan Parise. Parise went down rather easily and was called for Diving at the same time, thus nullifying any power play chance for UND. As the period progressed, so did Minnesota’s confidence and determination to win the game. The Gophers were effective particularly in the 3rd period in shutting down the potent UND offense thanks to their aggressive forechecking and playing it smart (read that staying out of the penalty box). Each time UND pressed, Minnesota would stand their ground and stayed with their tight-checking.
With roughly 30 seconds left in regulation, UND calls their time out to talk strategy. With the UND net empty and the faceoff in the Minnesota zone, the Fighting Sioux went to work with the extra attacker. At the 19:36 mark, Brady Murray appeared to have tied the game, but the goal had been waived off because Zach Parise’s stick was well over the crossbar when he went to make a deflected drop shot to Murray from a shot originally taken at the point. UND had one last gasp to tie the game but time had run out. Some pushing and shoving ensued just as the final buzzer had sounded, including Keith Ballard’s take down of junior Brandon Bochenski (OTT).
What won the game for Minnesota was their relentless forecheck and their ability to stay out of the penalty box, particularly in the 3rd period. Furthermore, the Gophers were not allowing the Fighting Sioux to get anything going/set-up as they held the very potent UND offense to a mere 7 combined shots in the last two periods of the game and 13 total for the entire game. With the win, UND’s 14 game unbeaten streak had been snapped and Minnesota head coach Don Lucia notched his 400th victory.
The weekend series was a definitely must-see. It was entertaining, fast paced, extremely intense and some excellent end-to-end action could be seen. Furthermore, some of the best talent in NCAA hockey was also on display. For UND, the plays of Zach Parise (NJ), Brady Murray (LA), Chris Porter (CHI), Matt Greene (EDM) and Andy Schneider (PIT) were excellent. Parise and Greene were arguably UND’s best players tonight.
For Minnesota, Kellen Briggs’ netminding was spectacular at times when he had to be and managed to bounce back tonight for the win. Among other Minnesota standouts include Keith Ballard (COL), Jake Taylor (NYR), Matt Koalska (NSH) and Barry Tallackson (NJ).
The next time these two teams will meet (should it come to it) will be in either in the WCHA playoffs or the Frozen Four Tournament. They will not meet again this regular season.
The long-awaited re-match at Mariucci Arena featured just about everything, including an hour and 10 minute delay due to a huge divot of ice that had to be removed just behind and to the left of the net that UND defended in the 1st and 3rd periods.
The opening faceoff was also delayed because a fan threw an object on the ice. When the game did finally get underway it made for some exciting, high-intensity, high-energy play. This game featured alot of great matchups, including the Keith Ballard-Zach Parise/Brady Murray and Matt Greene/Tomas Vanek matchups that alone were well worth the price of admission to watch and follow. Noticeably different for UND as far as lineups went was their “money line” of Brady Murray (LA) – Zach Parise (NJ) – Brandon Bochenski (OTT) was broken up. Murray and Parise played the game with junior Quinn Fylling on the line, while Bochenski was assigned to play with junior Colby Genoway and freshman Chris Porter (CHI). It didn’t matter because these two lines were sensational for UND pretty much the entire game. For Minnesota, the Jon Waibel – Barry Tallackson (NJ) – Garret Smaagaard line, which worked so well in the series versus Minnesota State-Mankato last weekend was back together again. Tomas Vanek (BUF), whose been on a line centered by Matt Koalska (NSH) for much of the season, got a new centerman to play along side in freshman Danny Irmen (MIN) with junior Jake Fleming covering the right wing position. Both of these lines were also quite good for Minnesota in the game. At the 5:26 mark, UND defenseman junior Matt Jones (PHX) would be assessed the first penalty of the game on a slashing. Minnesota, who had the top ranked power play in the nation coming into tonight’s game, went to work. UND with some aggressive defensive play managed to kill of the penalty successfully. At the 8:03 mark, Parise would get the Fighting Sioux on the board first. The play began with a turnover in the UND zone by Fleming, thanks to some excellent forechecking by Bochenski. UND Freshman Drew Stafford is there to gain puck possession and proceeds to skate into the Minnesota zone with Parise on a 2-on-1. Once there, Stafford takes the shot on goal and Gophers freshman netminder Kellen Briggs is there for the save, but gives up a rebound. Parise then darts towards the net to pick up the rebound by beating Minnesota defender, sophomore defenseman Peter Kennedy to the puck to flip it past Briggs for the score. Kennedy, who made a poor defensive play on Parise, made an even worse attempt at trying to poke check away the puck before Parise could get to it. Stafford would draw the lone assist on Parise’s goal. UND is a perfect 10-0-0 when scoring first. The things got chippy throughout the game, and many penalties were called as a result. At the 14:29 mark, Tallackson and UND junior Brian Canady would be sent off for matching roughing minors, however Canady would be assessed an extra two for a boarding call. Once again Minnesota was on the power play and once again UND was quite effective in shutting it down. However, UND would start to get into some penalty trouble that would prove costly. After sophomore defenseman Matt Greene (EDM) received a cross-checking call at 16:25, the Fighting Sioux found themselves short-handed even more when sophomore Mike Prpich would be called for high-sticking at 16:44, giving the Gophers a 5-on-3 advantage. UND would make it a 5-on-4 after Greene’s penalty had expired. At the 17:44 mark, the Gophers would finally hit pay dirt on the power play. It began with some nice passing by Minnesota. Senior Matt Koalska (NSH) makes a nice pass from near the corner boards to Vanek, who is parked in the high slot area near the right faceoff circle. Vanek fires a perfect (diagonal) cross-ice, tape to tape pass to team captain, senior Grant Potulny (OTT) who was parked just to the left of the UND net. Potulny then proceeds to slide it behind Fight Sioux netminder, junior Jake Brandt for the score. Vanek and Koalska would draw the assists. With the power play goal, Minnesota extended its consecutive game streak of scoring power play goals to 11. Near the end of the period, a scrum ensued over on the left boards as the Gophers’ towering freshman defenseman Jake Taylor (NYR) took and held down Fighting Sioux freshman Brady Murray (LA). As the referees got over to try and ply Taylor off of Murray, UND junior defenseman Andy Schneider (PIT) came to the aid of his teammate, getting into Taylor’s face and exchanging some not-so-kind words with him. From there, a crowd gathers before the referees dished out the penalties. Schneider and Murray would both be assessed roughing minors whiel Taylor would be assessed a double-minor for rough and a holding call. Schneider and Taylor kept yapping at one another on the way to and in their resepctive penalty boxes. All the penalties came at the 19:23 mark. As the penalties were being handed out, a large divot of ice had to be repaired before play could resume with 37 seconds left in the opening period. It would be a long while before play would resume.
After a delay of one hour and10 minutes, the first period resumed and was completed. Since both teams had to leave the ice for an extended period of time so the ice could be repaired, the 2nd period began almost immediately after the remainder of the first period had been completed. The slowed pace to start didn’t last long as the high-tempo play began to pick up rather quickly once again. At around the 3 minute mark of the 2nd period, one of the best hits of the game occured when Matt Greene levelled Tomas Vanek near the UND net. Vanek was no worse for wear on the hit, picked himself up and jumped right back into the play. A little later, arguably the best defensive play of the occured when Gophers defenseman, junior Keith Ballard (COL) got back to break up a pass that Fylling was trying to make to Parise on a potential 3-on1 situation. Ballard intercepted Fylling’s pass and flung the puck at the sideboards. It rebounds towards Irmen who just misses getting a stick on it. Instead, Matt Greene gains possession and passes to an incoming Zach Parise who couldn’t control it just outside the UND blueline. Jake Fleming is there to corral the puck then moves in from the left faceoff circle. He spots Vanek coming in toward the right side of the net and patiently waits until Vanek is in a good shotting position before passinng it off to him. Vanek takes Fleming’s perfect feed and slides it in just behind a sprawling Jake Brandt for the score. Junior defenseman Matt Jones (PHX) made a poor defensive coverage play on Vanek, which enable Vanek to not only get his stick on the pass, but to also get the go-ahead goal at 6:20. Fleming would draw the lone assist. As the period progressed, both team were guilty of giving up several odd-man rushes and both goaltenders had to come up big for their respective teams as a result. Minnesota freshman netminder Kellen Briggs made a dynamite save and clear on a 3-on-0 rush by UND in the latter stages of the period.
The 3rd period saw Minnesota get into penalty trouble and it prove to be their downfall. North Dakota who is one of, if not the best 3rd period team in the nation would capitalise on some of the Gophers’ short-handed situations. The first opportunity came at the 23 second mark when Minnesota centerman, sophomore Gino Guyer runs into then knocks down UND netminder Brandt just behind the right side of the UND net. Guyer would be assessed an interference (running into the goalie) call putting the Fighting Sioux on the power play. Nothing would come of the power play for UND, as the Gophers were relentless in their penalty killing, forcing some turnovers that led to some odd-man, short-handed chances for them. As the period progressed puck possession changed almost constantly as each team was very good in their checking and relentless pursuit of the puck. At the 4:44 mark, the Gophers would give North Dakota another shot at the power play thanks to a holding call on Gophers defenseman, junior Judd Stevens. This time, the Fighting Sioux would make the Gophers pay. At the 5:54 mark, junior Brandon Bochenski would get the equalizer. Bochenski starts the play by bringing in the puck himself into the Minnesota zone. He then dishes the puck off to defenseman Matt Jones, who has a little trouble corraling the bouncing puck. Jones then steers the puck towards the right corner boards, then leaves it for Bochenski on a nice puck support play. Bochenski then gains possession and sees some daylight between Briggs and the right post. He proceeds to launch the shot from the right faceoff circle that goes into the net, just inside the right post. Gophers defenseman Keith Ballard ended up screening the shot as he went down to make an attempt to block the shot. Matt Jones would be credited with the lone assist on Bochenski’s power play tally. Later in the period, Minnesota forward, senior Jon Waibel would be called for a rough at 9:56, putting the Fighting Sioux on the power play again. Again, it would be a costly penalty for Minnesota. At the 10:44 mark, UND freshman forward Chris Porter would tally what would be the eventual game-winning goal. Jake Fleming wins the draw for Minnesota and the puck ends up over around the corner boards. A battle for puck possession ensues along the boards. The puck comes out towards UND defenseman junior Nick Fuher, but it is Porter who gains possession. Porter does a nice job of backing up to the center area of the Minnesota blueline to find a shooting lane. He shifts from his backhand to forehand to launch a slapshot at the Gophers net. Gophers defenseman Jake Taylor and UND forward senior David Lundbohm were jostling for positioning in front of Briggs, who ended up being screened on the play. Porter’s shot goes throigh Taylor’s legs and just by the left side of Briggs for the score. Porter’s tally was unassisted. After Porter’s go-ahead tally, UND had a little more spring in their step. At the 16:51 mark, UND defenseman Matt Greene would take a bad penalty that would give Minnesota a chance to tie up the game. Greene, who got into a tussle with Keith Ballard near the UND bench, ends up darn near shoving Ballard’s head into the boards and then into the UND bench. Greene would earn a boarding for it. However, UND stuck to their defensive guns and effectively shut down the Gophers potent power play. As Greene’s penalty was about to expire, the Gophers had pulled Briggs for the extra attacker. With the net empty at Minnesota’s end, the Fighting Sioux was looking to put the final nail in the Gophers coffin in this game. At 19:00 mark, UND sophomore Mike Prpich did just that. It starts with UND defenseman Andy Schneider getting the loose puck from behind the UND net. Schneider then fires it around the boards. Greene, fresh out of the penalty box, was parked at the right sideboards near the UND blueline to receive the puck. He proceeds to shovel it ahead to an omcoming Prpich who skates along the sideboards, cuts in and wrists it into the empty net for the score. Greene and Schneider would be credited with the assists.
What won the game for UND was their ability to capitalise on their opportunities and matching their opponent’s intensity. What lost the game for Minnesota was their inability to stay out of penalty trouble in the 3rd period. For Minnesota, this game was quite a departure from the performance that the Gophers showed in the earlier series at Engelstad. The Gophers took it to the Fighting Sioux much of the game. Both teams were able to roll four very good lines and each team possesses some talented and punshing defensemen. For Minnesota the play of Danny Irmen, Jake Taylor and especially Keith Ballard was exceptional tonight. For North Dakota, Andy Schneider, Matt Greene and Zach Parise were all excellent. One player who played particularly well for UND was Chris Porter, who seems to have had alot of energy and jump playing along side Brandon Bochenski. Both netminders were sharp when they had to be and made some stellar saves.
The series concludes tomorrow night at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.
NORTH DAKOTA vs. MINNESOTA (SATURDAY, 1/24):
The second game of this series featured some very high-energy, high-intensity and high-flying play by both teams. However, the outcome would be very different.
UND made several lineup changes for tonight’s game. Freshman (and older Parise brother) Jordan Parise got the start over Jake Brandt. Parise is undefeated coming into tonight’s game (9-0-2). On the UND 4th line, in were: sophomore Lee Marvin and seniorm Ryan Hale. Hale had just finished serving his one-game suspension after receiving a game-disqualification penalty for a fight that he got into last weekend with towering (6’7) defenseman John Scott in the series versus Michigan Tech. Both teams came out flying, particularly UND. At the 3:53 mark, UND would be assessed the first penalty of the game as freshman Chris Porter (CHI) would be off for a slash, putting Minnesota on the power play. The UND penalty kill was relentless as they effectively killed it off. As the period progressed, Minnesota was guilty of some sloppy play that created some excellent scoring chances for UND and forced Minnesota netminder, freshman Kellen Briggs to come up with some bigtime saves. One of the saves he was forced to make was a nice play by sophomore Zach Parise (NJ) who got the puck that had ricocheted off of the lively backboards at Mariucci Arena.
There was no shortage of rough stuff and confrontations in this game. Around the 11 minute mark, UND freshman Drew Stafford decides to give towering Minnesota freshman defenseman Jake Taylor a nice little shot to his chops from behind. Taylor turns to Stafford, who decides to skate away rather have any further of a confrontation with the 6’4 defenseman, and at the 8:44 mark, both players would be assessed matching minors.
At the 10:05 mark, senior David Lundbohm would get the Fighting Sioux on the board first, once again. The play starts when freshman Brady Murray (LA) retrieves the puck from the sideboards and skates into the Minnesota zone. He dishes off to Lundbohm who is skating in toward Briggs one-on-one. He puts a nice deke on Briggs to get him to commit first, then proceeds to flip the puck into the net, going top-shelf left side. Gophers defenseman, junior Keith Ballard (COL) was late getting to Lundbohm, which help create the chance for Lundbohm. Murray would be credited with the lone assist on the goal. Later, just past the halfway point of the period, Gophers senior Barry Tallackson (NJ) goes crashing towards the UND net to get a shot away. Jordan Parise is there for the save, however he gives up a tiny rebound which gets a quick whistle much to the chagrin of the Gophers players: Tallackson, Waibel and Smaagaard who were fishing for the loose puck. Soon thereafter, a crowd gathers behind the UND net with play stopped. Minnesota senior Jon Waibel and UND towering freshman defenseman Matt Smaby (TB) get into a heated shoving match that results in both players wrestling each other on the ice. Both players would draw roughing minors. However, Waibel got an extra two for unsportsmanlike conduct. In addition, UND senior David Lundbohm would also be called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, nullifying any UND power play. From there the intensity would pick up as several shoving matches broke out until the period end. A continuation of one of the marquee player matchups from last night between Minnesota defenseman, junior Keith Ballard (COL) and UND sophomore Zach Parise (NJ), saw Ballard haul down Parise who was breaking into the Minnesota zone on an offensive rush, that earned Ballard a holding call and a trip to the penalty box late in the period.
The 2nd period saw UND with the momentum early and winning the battles to loose pucks. The Gophers however, were equally if not more aggressive in their play tonight than thet were last night. At the 3:08 mark, that aggressiveness would pay off for Minnesota. It begins with a turnover by UND sophomore defenseman Matt Greene (EDM). Greene was forced to get rid of the puck by sending it around the boards, thanks to some aggressive forechecking by sophomore Tomas Vanek (BUF). As Greene attempted to get rid of the puck, Gophers forward, junior Jake Fleming was there to intercept it behind the UND net. He dishes it off to an incoming Danny Irmen (MIN), who fans on his first shot attempt, then retrieves the puck again and proceeds to backhand a shot that slides by UND netminder Jordan Parise, just inside the right post for the score. Fleming would draw the lone assist on Irmen’s goal.
One area that plagued Minnesota much of the night was their inability to capitalise on scoring opportunities that presented themselves. Too often, the Gophers passing was mediocre to downright awful at times and other times it was a case of simply misfiring the puck. One such play occured around the six-minute mark of the period, where Tomas Vanek had done an excellent job of moving around UND defenseman junior Andy Schneider (PIT) then dishing to Irmen, only to have Irmen not be able to get it by a sprawling and out of position Jordan Parise. With Parise down, Irmen had the entire top half of the net to shoot at staring him right in the face. As the momentum of the game began swinging in Minnesota’s favour, so did the physical play. Already in the game, Schneider had given Gophers senior Troy Riddle (STL) a good jolt, while UND sophomore defenseman Matt Greene just pasted Gophers sophomore Andy Sertich (PIT) along the sideboards. At the 10:15 mark, UND sophomore Mike Prpich would be assessed a minor for elbowing that could’ve easily gotten him a game-misconduct but didn’t. It was a play that happened around the left sideboards, where Gophers defenseman Jake Taylor (NYR) is digging to gain puck possession. Taylor has his back to the ice when Prpich comes flying in on Taylor and gives him an elbow shot to the back of his head that looked alot worse than it actually was. From there, the nastiness started to get really ugly as players’ sticks were getting up and the referees were letting things go. While on the power play, Minnesota players were subjected to several situations where penalties could have or should have been called. The most blatant one was when UND netminder Jordan Parise clearly trips up Minnesota sophomore Gino Guyer (DAL) who was momentarily parked in just to the left side of the UND crease. Parise then decides to take Guyer’s feet out from under him. Fortunatelly for Parise and UND, no penalty was assessed. At the 12:41 mark, Prpich and Waibel get together to exchange a few shoves and words before being sent off on matching roughing minors. A few minutes later it was UND junior Rory McMahon and Minnesota sophomore defenseman P. J. Atherton (TB) getting together. They would each earn a double minor for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct. A few moments after that it was Lundbohm and Tallackson exchanging a couple of pokes at each other, but no penalties resulted. The Gophers aggressive play, physically and otherwise would start to wear on the Fighting Sioux. When things settled down a bit, the Gophers would continue to be aggressive in their forechecking and puck pursuit. At the 16:36 mark, that aggressiveness would once again pay off. It starts with a turnover in the UND zone by freshman Drew Stafford. Stafford makes a passing attempt to Zach Parise, only to have it broken up by Minnesota sophomore defenseman Chris Harrington. Harrington then dishes it off to senior Matt Koalska (NSH). Koalska then proceeds to shoot the puck to the sideboards. Senior Troy Riddle (STL) who had originally came into the Minnesota zone to help out on the defensive play, makes an excellent transition move to gain puck possession and skates down the sideboards back into the UND zone. Riddle gets all the way back behind the UND goal line before feathering a pass to an incoming Koalska, who’s between the faceoff circles. Koalska proceeds to fire a wrister at the UND net, that gets by a downed Jordan Parise. Koalska’s shot looked like it may have been defected off of Parise’s right pad and into the net. Riddle did an excellent job of fending off UND junior defenseman Matt Jones (PHX) to get the pass off, while Koalska was able to beat freshman Drew Stafford for the loose puck that Riddle had passed off. Riddle would draw the lone assist on Koalska’s goal. Minnesota was now up 2-1. As the period ended, momentum was clearly on Minnesota’s side.
The final began with Minnesota captain, senior Grant Potulny (OTT), not on the bench. It was not known if he was to return or why he wasn’t starting the 3rd period with the team. Minnesota was taking control of the game and in the process frustrating the Fighting Sioux. At the 3:26 mark, junior Colby Genoway decides to take a matter into his own hands by delivering a cross-check to the chops of Gophers sophomore Chris Harrington, earning him a trip to the penalty box. Minnesota didn’t have any success on their power plays so far tonight and this time would be no different. UND’s penalty killing was excellent all night. UND saw their chance to tie up the score when Minnesota started to make some mistakes in their puck possession. However, nothing would materialise in the form of a goal scored for UND. Things continued to be chippy. At the 8:51 mark, Koalska would be called for Goaltender Interference after bumping into Jordan Parise. Parise went down rather easily and was called for Diving at the same time, thus nullifying any power play chance for UND. As the period progressed, so did Minnesota’s confidence and determination to win the game. The Gophers were effective particularly in the 3rd period in shutting down the potent UND offense thanks to their aggressive forechecking and playing it smart (read that staying out of the penalty box). Each time UND pressed, Minnesota would stand their ground and stayed with their tight-checking.
With roughly 30 seconds left in regulation, UND calls their time out to talk strategy. With the UND net empty and the faceoff in the Minnesota zone, the Fighting Sioux went to work with the extra attacker. At the 19:36 mark, Brady Murray appeared to have tied the game, but the goal had been waived off because Zach Parise’s stick was well over the crossbar when he went to make a deflected drop shot to Murray from a shot originally taken at the point. UND had one last gasp to tie the game but time had run out. Some pushing and shoving ensued just as the final buzzer had sounded, including Keith Ballard’s take down of junior Brandon Bochenski (OTT).
What won the game for Minnesota was their relentless forecheck and their ability to stay out of the penalty box, particularly in the 3rd period. Furthermore, the Gophers were not allowing the Fighting Sioux to get anything going/set-up as they held the very potent UND offense to a mere 7 combined shots in the last two periods of the game and 13 total for the entire game. With the win, UND’s 14 game unbeaten streak had been snapped and Minnesota head coach Don Lucia notched his 400th victory.
The weekend series was a definitely must-see. It was entertaining, fast paced, extremely intense and some excellent end-to-end action could be seen. Furthermore, some of the best talent in NCAA hockey was also on display. For UND, the plays of Zach Parise (NJ), Brady Murray (LA), Chris Porter (CHI), Matt Greene (EDM) and Andy Schneider (PIT) were excellent. Parise and Greene were arguably UND’s best players tonight.
For Minnesota, Kellen Briggs’ netminding was spectacular at times when he had to be and managed to bounce back tonight for the win. Among other Minnesota standouts include Keith Ballard (COL), Jake Taylor (NYR), Matt Koalska (NSH) and Barry Tallackson (NJ).
The next time these two teams will meet (should it come to it) will be in either in the WCHA playoffs or the Frozen Four Tournament. They will not meet again this regular season.