Well, it looks as though the 1993-94 Minnesota jinx continues.
 
The Gophers beat the Badgers last night by a score of 3-2.  The Badgers were
basically esleep on their skates the first two periods.  The gophers seem to
win the race to every loose puck, and they controlled the play in the nuetral
zone.  The gophers took a 1-0 lead after the first on an absolutely beuatiful
backdoor feed on the powerplay.  Jim Carey had no chance to make the stop.
Carey played absolutely brilliantly, the whole game, and did Callinan for the
gophers.
 
The second period was a carbon copy of the first.  The gophers clearly looked
a class above the Badgers.  Minnesota struck first on another nice passing play
that began from behind the Badger net and ended up with a tap-in in the crease
by Nielson.  (If you haven't figured it out by now, the gophers were making
crisp passes all night, and playing good hockey.  The only reason that I can
think of as to why the gophers weren't up by four or five is the great play of
Jim Carey).  The Badgers finally "scored" halfway into the period.  Defenseman
Brian Rafalski took a shot that sort of butterflied towards the net (it may
have been tipped).  As Jeff Callinan was about to make the save, Kelly
Farichild caught the puck, and then gave it a little toss into the net.  The
referee (Greg Sheperd) allowed the goal, but it was CLEARLY not a goal.  Then,
after another pretty passing play and a goal by the gophers, Kelly Fairchild
scored his second goal of the night, on another somewhat odd play.  Andrew
Shier carried the puck down low, and as Jason Zent came screaming down the slot
he was dumped to the ice, taking out Jeff Callinan in the process.  Shier fed
the puck to Fairchild who blasted it into the net.  This one was a good call by
Sheperd, as Zent was clearly forced into the crease, and the Minnestoa must
have felt that way too because there wasn't a lot of arguement following the
goal.
 
The third period saw no scoring, but it was the most exciting period of the
game.  the Badgers looked like a different team.  they were skating well and
physically out playing the gophers.  They had plenty of chances to tie the game
but Jeff Callinan was making some great saves.  He was credited with 18 saves,
and I would say that a third of them would fall in the "stellar" category.
Jim Carey was also called upon to make a few beauty saves in the period.  It
looked liked the Badgers had a perfect opportunity to tie it up when Chris
McAlpine was called for a penalty with five minutes left in the game.  But, as
the Badgers are so good at, they let that chance slide when Blaine Moore took a
bonehead penalty 11 seconds later.  Usually it's Andrew Shier or Jason Zent
that takes the stupid penalty, especially Zent, who accumulated four minors in
this game.  (He's a guy that has been a MAJOR dissappointment this year).
McAlpine took another penalty with ten seconds left in the game, and the
Badgers had a 6 on 4 advantage (Carey was pulled) with the face-off in the
gopher zone.  But, as was the case most of the night, the gophers won the
face off and cleared the puck.  Game over.
 
One interesting side note, the game was played using the old one ref-two
linesmen system.  Apparently referee Brien Ricci was snowed-in in Detroit and
couldn't get to the game.  I asked another fan why they didn't just put an
orange band on one of the linesmen, but he said that they couldn't cuz they
linesmen are "local".  I had never heard of this.  But, I must say that I do
like the two-referee system much better.  Also, the Badgers have yet to score
a first perios goal against the gophers this year.
 
 
Minnesota                           1  2  0 - 3
Wisconsin                           0  2  0 - 2
 
                      First Period
Minnesota - Dustin 9 (Trebil, Woog), (pp), 18:01.
Penalties: LaFleur, M 1:52; Zent, W, 2:53; C. McAlpine, M 4:09; Mi Strobel, W,
4:09; Bertogliat, M 6:13; Moore, W, 6:13; Wasley, M (double minor), 9:46;
Bertogliat, M (double minor), 9:46; Moore, W (double minor), 9:49; Zent, W
(triple minor), 9:46; C. McAlpine, M, 13:19; Doers, W, 16:14.
 
                      Second Period
Minnesota - Nielson 24 (Bianchi, Means), 6:25.  Wisconsin - Fairchild 15
(Rafalski, Spencer). 9:57.  Minnesota - Bianchi 6 (Dustin, McAlpine), (pp),
12:18.  Wisconsin - Fairchild 16 (Shier, Zent), (pp), 19:01.
Penalties: Ma Strobel, W, 10:55; Wasley, M, 13:01; McHugh, M, 18:13.
 
                      Third Period
No Scoring
Penalties: Katlaps, W 3:53; Bonin, M, 9:32; Elick, W, 9:32; McAlpine, M, 15:10;
Moore, W, 15:21; McAlpine, M 1950.
 
                      Saves
Callinan (M)                    8  7  18 - 33
Carey (W)                       9  10 12 - 31
 
Power play: Minnesota 2 for 6; Wisconsin 1 for 6.
Attendance - 8,644.
 
 
Other WCHA scores:
 
Colorado College 5,  North Dakota 1
Alaska-Anchorage 4,  Denver 1
UM-Duluth 9,         Northern Michigan 3
 
 
Last chance to break the Minnesota jinx is tonight.  Go Big Red!!!
 
Robert Holmes
Dept of Meteorology, UW-Madsion