University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Win Third Straight in Sweeping Huskies
12/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota collected its third straight victory and fourth straight on the road in concluding the season's first half with a 3-2 win over Michigan Tech on Saturday in Houghton, Mich.
The Gophers broke a 1-1 tie with two goals in the final nine minutes of the second period and held off the Huskies for their second straight 3-2 win in the series sweep. It was Minnesota's third straight win heading into the holiday break as the Gophers are now 8-9-1 overall and 6-7-1 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Michigan Tech lost for the seventh straight time and fell to 3-13 overall and 2-12 in the WCHA.
Minnesota's road winning streak is its longest since winning five straight away from home Jan. 13-Feb. 17, 2007. The Gophers had three different players score and got 22 saves from Alex Kangas, who has been in goal for all three games during the current win streak.
The Gophers scored the game's first goal on their first power play chance of the game when Jake Hansen scored off a pass from Jordan Schroeder. Tony Lucia started the play behind the net with a pass out to Schroeder at the right point. Schroeder then threaded a pass to Hansen, who was parked just a few feet outside the crease left of the net and scored at the 5:56 mark of the first period.
Less than two minutes later, Michigan Tech also scored on its first power play and converted on its third straight power play chance after going two-for-two on Friday. The Huskies' Malcom Gwillam blasted a slapshot from the top of the left faceoff circle that deflected in off the post at the 7:37 mark.
The Gophers held a 12-7 advantage in shots during the first period and added to their lead with a goal from Taylor Matson at 11:41 of the second period. Ryan Flynn passed cross-ice to David Fischer, who fed Matson in front of the net for his second goal of the season.
Mike Carman put Minnesota ahead 3-1 at the 17:11 mark of the second period with his third goal of the season. Michigan Tech chipped the puck out of the zone and Mike Hoeffel chased it down in the Gophers' zone. He turned and passed off the boards to Carman, who found himself on a two-on-one. Carman took the shot himself and wristed a low shot to the far post for the goal.
Each team had 10 shots during the second period and also had a great scoring chance hit off the post. Minnesota's Kevin Wehrs found Jordan Schroeder wide open on the back door early in the period, but Schroeder's chance went off the post. Later in the period, Michigan Tech's Brett Olson ripped a shot from the left point that also deflected off the iron. Both goals were reviewed by video replay and confirmed to have hit posts.
Kangas came up with two of his biggest saves on back-to-back shots by Drew Dobson early in the third period. Kangas stopped Dobson on a point-blank shot in front of the net and then threw his left pad out to stop a rebound attempt.
The Huskies cut the lead to 3-2 at the 9:02 mark of the third period when the Gophers were victim of another bad bounce. Anthony Schooley was passing the puck in front of the net and, in what has seemingly been a regular occurrence this season, it deflected off the skate of a Minnesota player into the net.
Kevin Genoe made 28 saves for Michigan Tech and stopped Lucia twice on the Gophers' best two scoring chances of the third period. Minnesota held a 9-7 edge in shots in the final period and outshot the Huskies 31-24 for the game.
Michigan Tech pulled Genoe for an extra attacker in the final minute. Hansen took a shot from along the boards that deflected off the post of the empty net. The Huskies had one shot on goal during the six-on-five situation.
Both teams committed just three penalties and finished the night one-for-three on the power play.
The Gophers are off until Jan. 2 when they host Bowling Green in the Dodge Holiday Classic at 7 p.m. at Mariucci Arena.
