The Gophers dominated the entire weekend enroute to a convincing sweep.
Last night the Gophers brought the surging Bemidji State Beavers back to earth with a near flawless game when you consider they shut BSU out, gave up only 13 shots, and did not take a penalty. They kept the foot on the gas tonight in front of 10,202 at Mariucci Arena, with a 4-1win over the Beavers in a game that was not perfect, but impressive nonetheless.
As they did in Friday night’s contest, Minnesota came out and scored in the opening moments of the game, getting a goal from Erik Haula (13) at 1:13 of the first. Haula took a pass from Jake Hansen, skated up the middle, and flew a wicked wrister over the blocker of BSU Goaltender Dan Bakala for a 1-0 Minnesota lead. Brad Hunt would tie the game for Bemidji State with less than three minutes left in the first period when he beat Gophers Goalkeeper Kent Patterson cleanly on a slapshot from the point on a BSU power play.
Minnesota once again got a quick goal to open the second period, getting a tally from Jake Hansen (11) just two minutes into the middle session. Hansen looked to be hitting on all cylinders this weekend for the Gophers, and had a goal and an assist in tonight’s game. On the play, Haula passed to Justin Holl at the point, who cranked a slapshot that was tipped home by Hansen over Bakala, as he was camped out all alone in front of the Bemidji State Goaltender. Haula (14) then scored his second goal of the game at 7:07 of the second on the power play, after a great passing sequence where all five Gophers on the ice looked to have touched the puck. Nate Schmidt got the pass at the point and threw it down to Kyle Rau standing near the end line, as he did on his assist in last nights game, and Rau found Haula pinching in from the point near the faceoff circle, and he one timed a shot past Bakala glove side for the 3-1 Gopher lead.
Minnesota would carry that 3-1 lead through the second, and late into the third, when they got their fourth and final goal from Seth Ambrosz (5) into an empty net at 18:27. Nate Condon and Seth Helgeson got the assists on the play, with Condon unselfishly passing on a shot at the open net, and instead getting it over to Ambrosz skating all alone up the middle.
At the Gopher end of the ice, Patterson surrendered only one goal this weekend, while turning away a total of thirty five BSU shots. He has seen more challenging series this season, but still had no less than three saves tonight of the brilliant variety to keep the Gophers on top. Minnesota is now 9-1 versus in-state teams this season, and stayed two points ahead of Minnesota Duluth, who tied Minnesota State 4-4 in Mankato. The Gophers are four points ahead of Denver, who split at Wisconsin this weekend.
The Gophers (21-11-1, 17-7-0 WCHA) travel to Omaha next weekend to take on the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (13-12-6, 10-8-5 WCHA). Game time is 7:30 PM (Central), and the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports North PLUS.