>MTU defeated a very good U of Minnesota team this afternoon
>by hard hitting, skating the angles and keeping Minnesota
>from getting breakaways. What is more amazing, they were
>able to do this without clutching and grabbing. Both teams
>took 8 penalties each under the careful eyes of Bob ("Brutal")
>Ames and Buzzy Christiansen.
 
I don't know if I would say that MTU didn't play clutch and grab hockey
this afternoon.  During the first period it was hard for me to see a
player pull away from the boards without a stick around his waist.  (I
was way too into the game to make an honest statement after the 1st).
This is not to take anything away from MTU.  They play a close-checking
style of hockey that is designed to slow a fast team down.  The Goph's
seem to have trouble with this style, as was apparent last weekend at
ND.  Player for player, the Gophers are darned close to the best team in
the nation.  But as has been the case for years, they just can't seem to
work around a more physical team.
 
And, as has been stated, the ref's left a whole lot to be desired this
afternoon.  Ok, they were pretty darned bad.  On both sides.  But in the
third, MTU could do no wrong and the Gophs could do nothing right in the
eyes of Buzzie.  After a questionable call (or no call) there might
normally be a handful of people complaining, but this was the first game
I'd seen so many people boo so long about Buzzie not calling the
trip/interference/hook/whatever-you-want-to-call-it on the blue line in
the third.  But then again, Buzzie has been making questionable/bad
calls for years.
 
Enough of me being on my soapbox.  MTU won the game by outplaying the
Gophers when it counted.