Although neither coach was particularly pleased with their team's play, this was an entertaining game, at least for Wildcat fans. The offensive play wasn't much to talk about, but the defense was really entertaining. As they did with Denver's Angelo Ricci several weeks ago, the Wildcats assigned sophomore center Bill MacGillivray to shadow Fighting Sioux star Greg Johnson. Johnson was completely shut out of the scoring. NMU started Corwon Saurdiff, as usual, in goal. However, Saurdiff's current inconsistency (he seems to play an outstanding game followed by a mediocre one right now) has led Wildcat coach Rick Comley to assign tonight's (Saturday) start to freshman Paul Taylor, a decision which was made before the Friday contest and known to the team. The competition seemed to have quite an effect on Saurdiff. Although he gave up a goal on the first North Dakota shot, he played very well, making 20 saves including some difficult ones. More noticeably, he was really in the game, ranging far out of the net to pick up loose pucks, passing to his teammates, etc. (Actually, a couple of times it looked like Saurdiff's play was too much on the gambling side, but no disasters resulted and Comley was only complimentary about his play in the postgame radio interview. The Sioux opened the scoring at 6:41 of the first period with a power play goal by Nick Naumenko, who took passes from Bombardir (I LOVE that guy's name!) and Riendeau back to him near the blue line, where he made a short move to the center of the deep slot and fired a hard shot which glanced off Saurdiff's pads and into the net. The Wildcats tied it at 11:34 when Troy Johnson was fed by Mike Harding and Garret MacDonald when Harding picked up an errant pass near the North Dakota blue line. Johnson split the defensemen and ended up all alone on Sioux goalie Todd Jones, who was unable to stop Troy's slider into the lower right hand corner of the goal. In the second period NMU took the lead when Geoff Simpson, who played a tremendous game on defense, put a shot in from the middle of a crowd at the right point. MacGillivray and Steve Woog were given assists. North Dakota tied the game again less than five minutes later, at 9:05, when McKinnon, assisted by Mitani, cut across the near slot from behind the goal line and flipped a beautiful backhand shot over Saurdiff's left shoulder (I had a great look at this one from my seat, and had to appreciate it aesthetically, even if I didn't in terms of loyalty.) Joe Frederick got the game-winner at 11:36 of the second when he fired a screamer from the left faceoff circle on a power play. He was assisted by Johnson and Greg Hadden. The scoring was closed out by Bryan Ganz, who scored at 12:57 of the second with an assist from Steve Carpenter. Thus, two of the 'Cats' four goals were scored by what was supposed to be the checking line. Considering that there was no scoring for the remaining 27:03 of the game, it was remarkably entertaining. The Wildcat defense not only killed numerous power plays--including two consecutive 5-on-3 situations in the third period--it converted many shorthanded situations into excellent scoring opportunities. (In one of the 5-3 situations they suddenly ended up with a 3-0 breakaway!) However, Jones came up big on each play. One has to believe that in the Beattie-Drake-Hiller days a few of those opportunities would have put points on the board, but oh well . . . Although Comley said after the game that his team will have to play better to win again tonight, and the he expects the Sioux to play better, he was very pleased with the play of his defensemen. He was particularly taken with the fact that North Dakota only had a total of 25 shots attempted. The game became quite penalty-filled in the latter half of the second period and especially in the third period. Power play opportunites: NMU 1/5; UND 1/6 Penalties: NMU, 100; UND 9 Goalie saves: NMU, 20 (Saurdiff 4-9-7). UND, 28 (Jones) Attendance: 3,866 ********************************************************************** * Steve Christopher, NMU [log in to unmask] * * * * * * NCAA Division I Hockey National Champions 1990-91 * GO * * * NCAA Division I Hockey Final Eight 1991-92 * * * WCHA League Champions 1990-91 * 'CATS! * * * WCHA Playoff Champions 1989-90/1990-91/1991-92 . . . * * * * * **********************************************************************