University of Minnesota Athletics
Bemidji State Rallies to Force Series Split
11/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota had its three-game home winning streak snapped and lost to Bemidji State for the first time in a 6-2 loss on Sunday at Mariucci Arena.
The Gophers dominated the first period, but trailed 2-0 and then cut the lead to 2-1 before Bemidji State erupted for a late second period goal and three more in the first 3:04 of the third period. It was the first time the Beavers have beaten Minnesota in eight all-time meetings. The Gophers had won the first seven encounters by a combined 39-10 margin.
Minnesota had won four of its last five games, but dropped to 4-5-1 overall with the loss, while seventh-ranked Bemidji State overcome its first loss of the season from Saturday and improved to 8-1-1 overall. Despite giving up a season-high for goals, the Gophers' defense surrendered a season-low 19 shots as Minnesota finished with a 27-19 advantage.
Minnesota outshot Bemidji State 10-4 in the first period, but the Beavers scored both of the period's goals off a pair of Gophers' turnovers. Minnesota goaltender Alex Kangas was also removed after the first period for Kent Patterson. Patterson took the loss, having allowed the Beavers' eventual game-winning goal late in the second period.
Bemidji State's Shea Walters notched the first score, picking off a pass just before the blueline and wristing a wide open shot past Kangas at the 8:02 mark. The Beavers got another with 49.7 seconds left in the period as Matt Read ripped a shot from the faceoff dot after Jordan George picked off an errant Gophers' pass. It appeared a Beavers' player may have been in the crease on Read's goal, but the officials confirmed the goal after looking at the video replay.
The Gophers cashed in on their third power play chance of the game with a goal from Jordan Schroeder at the 9:19 mark of the second period. Minnesota swung the puck around the point from right to left with Cade Fairchild backhanding to Aaron Ness at the point. Ness served up a pass to Schroeder at the left faceoff dot and he one-timed a slap shot into the upper left corner.
Minnesota's Zach Budish was called for a five-minute major later in the period and the Gophers nearly tallied a shorthanded goal when Tony Lucia broke free behind the defense and rang a shot off the crossbar. Lucia already has two shorthanded goals this season as the Gophers lead the country with three shorthanders as a team.
One minute after Lucia's close call, Bemidji State scored a power play goal on a shot by Jamie MacQueen at the 16:11 mark of the period. It snapped Minnesota's streak at having killed 24 consecutive opponent power plays. Following the goal, the officials confirmed the replay of Lucia's goal, which would have negated the Beavers' goal and tied the game had they ruled it a goal. However, MacQueen's goal stood and Bemidji State led 3-1 after two periods, despite the Gophers holding a 19-11 advantage in shots.
The Beavers jumped on the Gophers early in the third period with a three-goal outburst in a span of one minute, 26 seconds to take a 6-1 lead. Bemidji State had an early power play and got a goal from Brad Hunt at the 1:38 mark before MacQueen scored an unassisted goal just 14 seconds later. Aaron McLoed finished the flurry with a goal at the 3:04 mark on a backhanded shot through Patterson's pads.
Minnesota cut the lead to 6-2 by scoring its second power play goal of the game and fourth of the weekend when Jake Hansen notched a goal at the 8:36 mark of the final period. Hansen tipped in a long shot by Kevin Wehrs for his first goal of the season and first in 20 games, dating to Jan. 30. The goal came on Minnesota's first shot on goal in nearly 15 minutes as the Gophers several minutes during that time shorthanded.
The Gophers had an opportunity to continue their comeback with another power play just over a minute later, but missed their best chance of the man-advantage when Mike Hoeffel's hard shot from along the goal line bounced off the post and out. Kangas, who re-entered the game after Bemidji State's sixth goal, made a big pad save on a breakaway at the other end.
Beavers' freshman goaltender Mathieu Dugas made his second career start and finished with 25 saves. Kangas allowed two goals and made seven saves for Minnesota, while Patterson had six saves on 10 shots. Kangas had another outstanding pad save with one minute left in the game on a Beavers' power play.
Minnesota finished two-for-six on the power play, while Bemidji State was two-for-five.
The Gophers face another in-state opponent at Mariucci Arena next weekend when they host Minnesota Duluth in a two-game series on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. each night.
