University of Minnesota Athletics
MINNESOTA RALLIES AGAIN FOR 5-5 TIE AT MICHIGAN TECH
11/4/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The Huskies got to freshman goaltender Travis Weber early and often as Michigan Tech jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first 17:05 of the period. Clay Wilson picked up the first two goals of his collegiate career and Bryan Perez scored the first two of his three on the night. Weber was pulled at 17:05 in favor of senior Adam Hauser, who was 9-0-0 lifetime against Michigan Tech.
A minute and a half later, Grant Potulny tallied his first power-play goal on the season as he deflected Jordan Leopold's shot from the point. Potulny led the nation last year in power-play goals. The Golden Gophers entered the first intermission down by three.
Looking to keep the momentum, Minnesota failed to keep the Huskies off the board as Perez struck again, this time on a delayed penalty. It would be the last score for MTU as Hauser stood tall in the nets, making key saves throughout the second and third periods.
At the 8:01 mark, Troy Riddle pulled Minnesota to within 4-2 as he brought the puck up on the right side, moved towards the net and flipped the puck over MTU goalie Cam Ellsworth. Shortly after, with a Michigan Tech penalty kill ending and the Huskie coming out of the box, Tech had a two on zero rush against Hauser who denied the scoring chance with a sprawling save.
Five minutes later with Matt Koalska in the penalty box, Jake Fleming collected his first career goal. Minnesota trailed 5-3 entering the final period.
In the final stanza, Minnesota's potent power-play did the rest of the damage. At 8:04, Leopold found a streaking Johnny Pohl who buried the puck over Ellsworth's left shoulder. Down by one with time winding down, Minnesota got another break as Colin Murphy was called for cross- checking with 1:15 to play in the game.
Off the faceoff, won by Pohl, Leopold winded up for a slapshot, but it was blocked by a MTU defender. The puck came back to Leopold and he tried again. This time, he beat Ellsworth and the Golden Gophers knotted the game at five.
In the extra session, Minnesota had a 2-0 shot advantage, but a slashing penalty call on Jeff Taffe put the Golden Gophers on the defensive. The two teams quietly finished out the extra period and settled for a 5-5 tie.
Hauser stopped 18 of 19 shots, while Ellsworth denied 36 of 41 in his first collegiate start.
