Tonight’s nightcap game between the Gophers and Seawolves would get off without a hitch at Sullivan Arena, and the Gophers expected a win, and started Alex Kangas in net thereby showing that confidence was there on defense even after the four-goal coughing fit last night. Anchorage would put Jon Olthuis in net, as was the case on Friday evening.
After a slow first five minutes and change, Nick Larson would take the first Gopher penalty at 6:38 for a tripping call, which will get called every time you try it. The Gophers penalty kill wouldn’t be tested at all during this exchange, as Anchorage couldn’t convert on the advantage. Kane Lafranchise got away with an elbow to the head as the penalty went uncalled. You’d think it’d be called because of contact to the head being a safety issue. The Gophers would get a power play just moments after the cheap shot on a tripping call served by Mickey Spencer at 11:18 in the period. The Gophers would however not convert on their first man-advantage of the game, and that would only prove just how critical even strength play was. Zach Budish would score the game’s opening goal on a tip-in (his seventh on the season) with Jordan Schroeder (his sixteenth) and Jacob Cepis (his sixth) assisting Budish on the goal at 15:05 on even strength. Twelve shots were on goal in total at the 15:05 mark, and I found that interesting because that shows how defensive each team started. Kevin Wehrs would take a trip to hockey jail that he thought was unnecessary, but was called a hook at 16:48. Anchorage would have their second power play of the game from this call, and showed that they could play aggressively if they wanted to. Brian Schack would go off late in the first period for playing a bit too physical at 18:48, as Schack would commit interference. This power play for the Seawolves would carry over into the second period, as the man-advantage for the Seawolves only went 0-2, and the Gophers went 0-1. Four penalties overall really surprised me, but that showed how clean the period really was. Shots in the opening period went to Alaska-Anchorage 11-6, but the only thing that mattered was the Budish tip-in at 15:05, giving Don Lucia and his players something to rest their heads on briefly in the locker room.
Anchorage would quickly start the period on the right foot as Josh Lunden would use the carryover power play time to tie the game at one apiece, and the goal was Lunden’s sixth of the season at 0:37. Kevin Clark (his tenth) and Alex Gellert (his second) would assist on the man-up situation to tie the game. In the first 2:30 of the period, Anchorage outshot the Gophers 3-0 unofficially, and the Gophers would need to tweak their defensive mindset slightly. Kane Lafranchise would give the Gophers their second power play of the game at 6:38 in the period on another textbook tripping penalty. Unfortunately, the Gophers were not able to convert on the man-advantage and that seemed to stun the Gophers only slightly as Alex Kangas would help build momentum with save after save made. Kevin Clark would get help from the end glass on a beautiful shorthanded effort after Alex Gellert would go to jail for high sticking. Clark’s goal was his fourteenth of the year and it was assisted by Lee Baldwin and Kane Lafranchise at 14:02 giving Anchorage a 2-1 lead. The Gophers couldn’t convert on the leftover power play time they had, going 0-3 in the first 36:00 of action. Anchorage’s Lee Baldwin would get called for a slash at 17:05 and give the Golden Gophers an opportunity to tie the game but couldn’t convert on the chance late in the period. Minnesota went 0-3 on the power play in the period (0-4 overall through two periods), while Anchorage converted on the carryover penalty to go 1-1 in the period for 1-3 overall. Shots in the second period went to Minnesota 11-9, narrowing the overall gap to 20-17 in favor of the Seawolves which was a full turn from last night.
The third period would have the Gophers playing more aggressively, because they needed to chase the game and get to even terms with Anchorage after a two-goal second period for the Seawolves. Nico Sacchetti would get a hooking penalty at 4:40, putting the Seawolves on their fourth man-up of the game which would go unconverted. The Gophers would keep playing a style of “give and take” hockey in the middle of the period, making for a back and forth pace to the middle part of the third period. The Gophers would become the more aggressive team down the stretch, but Jon Olthuis proved up to the task for the Seawolves. The Gophers would have more shots (6-3) in about 16:00 in the third period, giving the teams a tie in the shot on goal department (at that time) at 23 each. Zach Budish would get a brilliant chance at 19:10, but was unable to convert on the puck that slid on the ice. Anchorage would have one power play early in the 3rd period that went unconverted for a total of 1-4, while the Gophers stunningly went 0-4 on the night with no power play chances in the third. Shots in the third period had Minnesota winning that battle 7-4 for a 24-24 shot total in the game. Alex Kangas would not see the net in the final thirty seconds or so, but the Gophers couldn’t convert with the extra man, and proved that finishing was tough on the night.
The Gophers take a weekend off next week, but that doesn’t mean the Golden Gopher Hockey Examiner will! I’ll have special wrap-ups of two “Games of the Week” which will include the Wisconsin Badgers taking on Michigan in the Camp Randall Hockey Classic one week from tonight. Any nominations for the Friday game that I cover, as well as general comments, can be directed to Disch61@hotmail.com or you may also leave a comment below. Facebook users can become a fan of the Gopher Puck Examiner by searching “Minnesota Golden Gophers Hockey Examiner” from any Facebook page.
Until next time, I’ll see you at the rink!
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