There were four WCHA games along Hwy. 2 over the weekend, all went to overtime and didn’t really favor the two Minnesota teams, especially Saturday.
No. 6 North Dakota scored with 24 seconds left in OT to defeat Minnesota Duluth 4-3 in Grand Forks, N.D., while Michigan Tech scored with 30 seconds left in OT to defeat Bemidji State 2-1 in Bemidji, Minn. Michigan Tech won both games of the series in sudden death, while UMD and North went to a 4-4 tie Friday.
UMD (2-6-2) is still looking for its first league win (0-4-2) along with Alaska Anchorage (0-2-2). Both are in a three-way tie for 10th (along with Minnesota State-Mankato). Red-hot Denver with five straight wins has taken a four-point lead in the race for the MacNaughton Cup.
Next up for UMD is a Thanksgiving weekend home series with No. 15 St. Cloud State (6-4).
Recaps from UMD-North Dakota on Saturday from the News Tribune here and Grand Forks Herald here.
In Bemidji, Minn., Blake Pietila (7) scored with 30 seconds remaining in overtime as Michigan Tech defeated Bemidji State 2-1 for a series sweep. Tech led in shots 42-28. Steven Seigo had given the Huskies a 1-0 lead after two periods and Jordan George tied it for BSU with 5:09 left in regulation. Winning goalie Kevin Genoe (3-1) had 27 saves. Attendance 3,070. From the Bemidji Pioneer here.
At Denver, No. 2 Denver scored three goals in the first period and three in the third to stop No. 14 Colorado College 6-2 to sweep the series in the Gold Pan rivalry. While holding a 3-2 lead after two periods, Denver got two goals from Chris Knowlton (8) in the third and one from Quentin Shore. Denver was 2-5 on power plays and led in shots 34-26. Attendance 6,096. Sam Brittain had 24 saves for Denver. From the Denver Post here and Colorado Springs Gazette here.
At Minneapolis, No. 3 Minnesota rallied with the game’s final three goals to beat Wisconsin 3-1. The Gophers trailed 1-0 after one period and then got goals from Nick Bjugstad (6) in the second and Tom Serratore at 5:59 of the third, and then added an empty-net score. Freshman goalie Adam Wilcox is 6-1-2. Minnesota led in shots 28-17. Attendance 10,187. From the Wisconsin State Journal here, Minneapolis Star Tribune here and the St. Paul Pioneer Press here.
WCHA Summaries and Standings Courtesy of College Hockey Stats.net
1 Denver 14 8 7- 1- 0 .875 35- 19 10 9- 1- 0 .900 45- 22 2 Minnesota 10 8 4- 2- 2 .625 23- 19 11 7- 2- 2 .727 36- 21 3 Nebraska Omaha 9 6 4- 1- 1 .750 21- 15 10 6- 3- 1 .650 34- 23 4 Colorado College 8 6 4- 2- 0 .667 24- 21 12 7- 5- 0 .583 43- 39 North Dakota 8 6 3- 1- 2 .667 20- 16 10 5- 3- 2 .600 32- 24 St. Cloud State 8 6 4- 2- 0 .667 19- 13 10 6- 4- 0 .600 36- 25 7 Michigan Tech 6 8 3- 5- 0 .375 21- 28 10 4- 6- 0 .400 31- 36 8 Wisconsin 4 6 1- 3- 2 .333 11- 15 8 1- 5- 2 .250 14- 21 9 Bemidji State 3 6 1- 4- 1 .250 16- 21 8 2- 5- 1 .312 21- 23 10 Alaska Anchorage 2 4 0- 2- 2 .250 6- 13 8 2- 3- 3 .438 17- 24 Minnesota Duluth 2 6 0- 4- 2 .167 14- 21 10 2- 6- 2 .300 26- 31 Minnesota State 2 6 1- 5- 0 .167 14- 23 10 3- 5- 2 .400 27- 32
Minnesota Duluth 3 at North Dakota 4 OT Box Michigan Tech 2 at Bemidji State 1 tie Box Colorado College 2 at Denver 6 Box Wisconsin 1 at Minnesota 3 Box
Overall, I liked the way the DOGS competed this weekend. If they play and compete like this then when #15 comes over the blue line in the extra session then the DOGS will score in OT rather than clank one off of the pipe. Our DOGS totally outplayed ND in OT.
I really do not want to throw our quality WCHA refs under the bus but I would have liked to have been a fly buzzing around the young Shepherd ref while he was explaining as to why the DOGS picked up the extra penatly minutes after the ND player threw punches into the BULLDOGS bench. I certainly hope in the new league that there are developmental opportunities for the on ice officials. This current group of on ice officials is pathetic.
Shepherd=Idiot. This has been proven many times. I really liked the compete level and would say UMD had the better of the play this weekend. “Be patient Grasshopper”