University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Alaska-Anchorage
Gophers Skate to 2-2 Overtime Tie in Anchorage
11/11/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
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Nov. 11, 2012
ANCHORAGE, Alaska. - The Minnesota men's hockey team skated to a 2-2 overtime tie with Alaska Anchorage on Saturday night to earn three Western Collegiate Hockey Association points over the weekend. The No. 2 Gophers opened the weekend with a 4-0 win over the Seawolves on Friday.
In the first overtime game of the year for the Gophers, Seth Ambroz gave Minnesota an early lead when he found the back of the net with a shot from his knee at 2:11 of the first period during Minnesota's first power play of the night. Travis Boyd set up his linemate while Mike Reilly was later credited with a secondary assist on the goal. Ambroz - a sophomore forward - now has three goals and six points on the season. Minnesota (6-2-1 overall, 3-2-1 WCHA) would finish the night 1-for-3 on the power play after going 4-for-6 in Friday's opener.
Alaska Anchorage (2-3-3, 0-2-2 WCHA) notched its first goal of the weekend just over 10 minutes later at 12:21 when Jordan Kwas scored a power-play goal of his own after being set up by Blake Tatchell and Blake Leask. UAA would finish the night 1-for-5 while on the advantage. The Seawolves took a 2-1 lead 5:38 into the third period when Alex Gellert beat Adam Wilcox moments after an Alaska Anchorage power play expired. Derek Docken assisted on the goal for the Seawolves.
Minnesota battled back to prevent Alaska Anchorage from earning its first conference win of the season, and Erik Haula capped the comeback with his fifth goal of the year - the Gophers' only even-strength score of the weekend - at 13:31 of the third. Mark Alt fed the junior forward through the Seawolves defense to set up the goal while Nate Schmidt also was credited with a secondary assist.
After regulation ended in without another goal, Minnesota dominated the overtime session, outshooting the Seawolves 5-0 despite Alaska Anchorage's experience in overtime this season. The home team had previously skated to 3-3 overtime ties with Air Force and North Dakota. Despite the shot advantage, the game ended knotted at 2-2.
Wilcox turned away 21 shots on Saturday night to move to 5-1-1 for the season. Rob Gunderson moved to 1-0-3 this year for UAA with a 31-save night. Nick Bjugstad paced Minnesota in the faceoff circle, winning 14-of-20.
Minnesota returns to action next weekend at Mariucci Arena when Wisconsin visits Minneapolis for a pair of WCHA games.
-Pride on Ice-
