University of Minnesota Athletics
Defense Carries Gophers to Win Over Tigers
2/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Alex Kangas made 26 saves as Minnesota used a stellar defensive effort to snap a three-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over seventh-ranked Colorado College on Friday at Mariucci Arena.
Kangas finished with his first shutout of the season and fourth of his career as the Gophers improved to 14-15-2 overall and 9-12-2 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Colorado College had won three straight and fell to 17-11-3 overall and 11-9-3 in the WCHA.
Minnesota shut down the nation's 10th-ranked scoring offense that entered the game averaging 3.43 goals per game. The Tigers also had the nation's third-ranked power play and were 0-for-4 for the game, getting just two shots on goal despite a pair of five-on-three advantages.
Kangas was not tested often, but came up with saves whenever needed to hand the Tigers just their second shutout of the season. Minnesota outshot Colorado College 35-26 for the game.
Minnesota owned a dominant 16-4 advantage in shots in the first period, but didn't score until Patrick White beat the first period horn with a goal with 0.2 seconds remaining. White took a pass from Nico Sacchetti and scored from just inside the right faceoff circle to give the Gophers the lead at the first intermission.
Late in the first period, Minnesota had an outstanding power play that seemed to turn momentum in favor of the Gophers. They didn't score on the man-advantage, but had numerous chances and put five shots on goal.
Neither team scored in the second period, though Minnesota committed two early penalties in the period to give Colorado College a five-on-three power play for 35 seconds. The Tigers were on the man advantage for three minutes, 25 seconds, managing just two shots during that time.
Jordan Schroeder scored at the 1:38 mark of the third period to give the Gophers a 2-0 advantage. Jacob Cepis skated into the slot for the initial shot, which was saved by Tigers' goaltender Joe Howe. The rebound bounced free to Schroeder on the side of the crease and he slammed home the rebound for the goal. Zach Budish also assisted the play.
Josh Birkholz gave Minnesota a 3-0 lead when he wristed a shot from the left faceoff dot at the 11:36 mark of the third period. White picked up a loose puck just inside the blue line and dished to Birkholz, who eluded one defender and sent a high shot into the back of the net.
Colorado College's best scoring chance came shorthanded in the first period when Bill Sweatt broke free of the defense. Sweatt got Kangas to commit one way, but he got too deep on the play and his shot hit the side of an open net.
Minnesota had a breakaway of its own midway through the third period as Cepis picked the puck off a defenseman's stick and skated in all alone, but fanned on the shot attempt.
Minnesota was 0-for-3 on the power play and Howe had 32 saves for Colorado College. The teams meet again Saturday at 3 p.m. at Mariucci Arena.
