University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Drop Series Opener at North Dakota 6-3
1/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota surrendered a season high for goals and shots in a 6-3 loss to North Dakota on Friday in Grand Forks, N.D.
The Gophers got two goals and an assist from junior Ryan Stoa, but were unable to battle back from a lackluster first two periods that saw North Dakota outshoot Minnesota 37-12 and take a 4-1 lead. Minnesota, ranked third nationally, fell to 10-4-5 overall and 7-3-3 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while North Dakota is 12-10-1 overall and 7-5-1 in the league.
North Dakota’s six goals matched the most allowed by Minnesota this year, equaling a 6-3 loss to Michigan. It was the most surrendered by the Gophers in a WCHA game since a 7-3 loss to the Sioux on Jan. 27, 2007. North Dakota’s 45 shots on goal were the most the Gophers have allowed this season.
The Sioux dominated the game from the opening faceoff and held an 18-2 advantage in shots in the first period, but had nothing to show after an outstanding opening-period performance from Minnesota goaltender Alex Kangas, who stopped all 18 shots. Both of Minnesota’s shots came from outside the faceoff circles and the Sioux had numerous other chances go wide, including one shot off the post late in the period.
Minnesota opened the second period on the power play, but it was North Dakota which took advantage as Evan Trupp stole the puck and raced to the other end, beating Kangas through his legs for a shorthanded goal 1:17 into the period.
The Sioux added another at the 5:13 mark on the power play against Minnesota’s national-leading penalty killing unit. Jason Gregoire scored the first of his two goals with assists from Trupp and Matt Frattin.
Minnesota came back just over two minutes later with Stoa’s first goal of the night, knocking in a rebound of a shot by Sam Lofquist. Cade Fairchild also assisted the play at 7:41 of the period.
Two more North Dakota goals gave the Sioux a 4-1 lead through two periods as Ryan Duncan knocked in a goal that bounced over Kangas’ shoulder and was confirmed by replay at 11:25 and Gregoire notched his second with an unassisted breakaway goal on a backhanded shot at 17:29. North Dakota outshot the Gophers 19-10 in the second period.
Minnesota looked ready to start a comeback in the third period with the first five shots of the frame and a goal from Stoa at 4:29 of the period. He took a pass from Fairchild coming down the slot and ripped a shot past Sioux goaltender Brad Eidsness that bounced in off the crossbar. A short time later, the Gophers had a power play with a chance to trim the deficit to one goal, but North Dakota held Minnesota without a shot and then scored a goal of its own from Andrew Kozek at the 8:46 mark to push the lead to 5-2.
Just over a minute later, Ryan Martens tallied a goal at the 9:48 mark to give the Sioux a commanding 6-2 lead as Kangas allowed six goals in a game for the first time in his career. Kangas was pulled at that point, finishing the night with 34 saves. Kent Patterson completed the game in goal and made five saves.
Jordan Schroeder added a goal for the Gophers with assists from Jay Barriball and Stoa on a nifty three-on-two breakout that resulted in an easy goal at the 12:24 mark. The Gophers managed few chances the rest of the way as North Dakota finished the night with a 45-24 advantage in shots. Eidsness made 21 saves in goal for the Sioux.
The two teams play again on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Grand Forks.
