University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gophers Defeat Top-Ranked North Dakota 6-3
1/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
For the second straight night, Minnesota got on top first. On the power-play in a scrum in front of goaltender Jake Brandt, Thomas Vanek tried to punch the puck through as did Koalska. Riddle was able to gain control and flip over Brandt for the goal at 10:31.
North Dakota responded with a pair of goals as David Lundbohm tipped in James Massen's centering pass at 12:22. Less than four minutes later, Brandon Bochenski found Zach Parise charging into the zone and he deked Weber and slid the puck home.
In the second period, Minnesota's sloppy play was ended by an energizing shift from its fourth line of Joey Martin, Jake Fleming and Jon Waibel. Its top line followed them onto the ice and Koalska stole the puck in the corner. He passed behind the net to Vanek who one-timed it in front to Riddle who punched it past Brandt at 17:42.
With North Dakota on the power-play to start the third period. Shortly after Waibel was denied on a breakaway, Fleming took the feed from Waibel and went in all alone. He capitalized on the shorthander and Minnesota took the 3-2 lead just 33 seconds in.
With less than halfway to go in the game and Minnesota back on the power-play, the Golden Gophers increased the lead to two as Keith Ballard's wrist shot from the point was deflected in by Gino Guyer.
With time winding down and North Dakota on the power-play, Dean Blais pulled his goaltender with just under three minutes to play. With the puck loose along the board in the UND zone, Waibel won the foot race and backhanded it into the empty net at 17:42.
North Dakota made it interesting at 18:42 as Andy Schneider scored to pull UND to within two. With Brandt out of the net again, Vanek finally sealed the deal with his 18th goal of the season, an empty- netter from the red line.
Vanek finished with a goal and two assists while Riddle added a pair of markers. Koalska, who will undergo hernia surgery on Monday, finished with a career-high four assists.
Travis Weber stopped 24 of 27 shots to earn the win.
Notes
Minnesota is now 14-0-3 in its last 17 WCHA series finales.
Minnesota has not lost consecutive games since the end of the 2001 season, a span of 67 games. Minnesota is now 11-0-4 in games following losses.
Minnesota has not been swept at home since February, 2000, vs. Wisconsin, a span of 17 series.
Thomas Vanek has been held scoreless in a total of five games this season. In the five games following those contests, he has a total of 7-7--14.
