The University of North Dakota is a team that doesn't die. Down by 2
midway into the 3rd period the Fighting Sioux took advantage of more
sloppy play by the Golden Gophers and scored a short handed goal and a
powerplay goal to tie the game at 5.
 
The Gopher fans were struck dumb with disbelief that their team had given
up a 2 goal lead in the final period. The OT period was exciting, with
Minn getting a power play with 1:39 left, but the Gophers couldn't put
away any of their numerous chances. The Gophs had 2 scrambles in front of
the UND net in the OT but failed to poke the puck over the goal line.
 
Saturday's game was much like Friday's game. A lot of wide open end to
end skating. Both teams played pretty even the first period. UND came out
and peppered the Gopher goalie. But Minn got on the board first with a
power play goal from fresh. Mike Crowley. The goal was similar to the
goal he scored last night where he held the puck forever, waiting for the
defenseman to go down  and then putting the puck up over the goalie's
shoulder. Crowley is going to be an awesome player for the Gophs. Then
the Sioux came back and evened it at one with a nice power play goal. The
Gophs took the lead with a nice face off goal from fresh. Casey
Hankinson. Face off to the right of Kavelavog, Jed Febilkorn wins the
draw and slides the puck right to Hankinson who one-times it home from the
top of the slot. It was a textbook goal. UND didn't give up, however and
scored on a breakaway - one of the many Minn gave up this weekend. I'm
sure the Minn coaches are going to be working the heck out of the
defensemen this week. Minn's defense gave up more break aways this
weekend than they have all season. Alternate Captain Dan Trebil looked
especially weak. He makes great plays coming back on defense, poke
checking the puck off winger's sticks, but he make several mistakes this
weekend.
 
The second period was ALL UND. They totally dominated the Gophers the
entire period. The crowd was totally out of the game. It was probably the
worst period of hockey the Gophs played all season. UND scored once to
take the lead 3-2.
 
Gopher fans were hoping their players would get really chewed out in the
locker room between periods, so they'd come out and play some hockey.
Well, that must have happened because the Gophs came out in the 3rd and
scored 3 goals in the first five and a half minutes. UND took a penalty
.39 into the 3rd. Minn capitalized on the pp with Crowley scoring his 2nd
goal of the night on a nice slapper from the blue line. Next, Checco
finally ended his drought by scoring on a great individual effort. He
came in on the UND net, and the puck ended up behind the net where he
banged through a coupld of defenders and came away with the puck and slid
it past Kavelavog on the wrap around to take the lead. The crowd was
going wild it was such a sweet goal.
 
The final goal for the gophers came off an incredible, super human effor
from co-captain Scott Bell. Minnesota entered the UND zone, puck goes
behind the net, Scottie Bell crashes along the boards and comes out with
the puck but he had 2 defenders stuck to him as well. He continues along
out from behind the net attracting another couple of defenders. With all
the defenders on Bell, Bonnin is standing alone in front of the goal.
Bell had 3 defenders draped on his body and arms, but still manages to
get a one-armed pass off to Bonnin who one-times the puck past the
goalie. The crowd errupted at the sight of such an incredable effort and
such a great come back from down 2-3 to up 5-3! Three goals in five minutes!
 
But the Sioux never quit. They didn't give up despite the big momentum
switch. They came back to pull within one on a nice short handed goal by
Johnson at 8:58. This goal was caused by UND aggressive penalty kill
where they played close coverage and chipped the puck off a Minn
defenseman's stick and broke in for the goal. Then Wilson evened it up on a
pp goal by flying in 2 on 1 with Murphy, overwhelming the MN penalty killers
and putting the puck in at the doorstep.
 
UND is a lot better than they were a year ago. I really like what Dean
Blais has done with the team. They still have the toughness, but they are
more skilled than they were a year ago. Woe to the team that faces them
in the first round of the play offs!
 
Thank you DU
 
Reed