University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Drops Regular Season Finale to Bulldogs
3/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
A third period rally fell just short for Minnesota in its final regular season game of the season as the Gophers fell to Minnesota Duluth 3-2 on Saturday at Mariucci Arena.
The game did not impact Minnesota’s final seeding in the upcoming Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs as the Gophers were assured of the seventh seed entering the game. They will open the postseason on the road for the first time since 1999-2000 with a three-game series at Minnesota State beginning on Friday.
The Gophers had a five-game unbeaten streak snapped and conclude the regular season with a 15-14-9 overall record and a 9-12-7 mark in the WCHA. Minnesota Duluth scored more goals on Saturday than it had during its five-game losing streak entering the game. The Bulldogs, who were held to two goals in the previous five outings, clinched the eighth seed and will open the playoffs at third-seeded Denver. They are 13-15-6 overall and 9-14-5 in the league.
For just the 10th time all year, the Gophers failed to score the game’s first goal as the Bulldogs got a rebound score from Cody Danberg with 1:13 left in a lackluster first period. Nick Kemp had the original shot for the Bulldogs, who held an 8-4 advantage in first period shots.
Minnesota Duluth went ahead 2-0 on a goal by Mike Curry at the 12:34 mark that was assisted by Andrew Carroll. However, the Bulldogs committed two penalties in the next two minutes, giving the Gophers a five-on-three power play for 1:03. Minnesota converted with a goal from Ben Gordon that was assisted by Mike Hoeffel and Mike Howe at the 14:54 mark.
For the second time in the game, the Bulldogs got a goal in the closing moments of a period as Drew Akins scored a power play goal off a rebound with 29 seconds left in the second period. Rob Bordson and Trent Palm assisted the goal for a 3-1 advantage.
Minnesota had numerous chances in the third period and scored off a hard-working play by defenseman Kevin Wehrs, who carried the puck into the zone and rushed the net where it bounced free to Justin Bostrom for his third goal of the year. Tom Pohl also picked up an assist on the goal at the 4:07 mark of the period. Minnesota outshot the Bulldogs 12-5 in the third period and held a 27-21 edge for the game.
The Gophers pulled goaltender Alex Kangas with 58 seconds left, but were never able to get a faceoff in the Bulldogs’ zone or a quality scoring chance. Minnesota was one-for-six on the power play, while Minnesota Duluth was one-for-four.
Other first-round playoff matchups next weekend have top-seeded Colorado College hosting 10th-seeded Alaska Anchorage, second-seeded North Dakota hosting ninth-seeded Michigan Tech and fifth-seeded St. Cloud State hosting sixth-seeded Wisconsin. All series will run Friday and Saturday with a possible third game on Sunday.
