Gophers Settle For Tie

Up And Down Game Had Fitting Ending

Not the results most Gopher fans wanted from the rematch from last night; there were long periods of them standing around and watching, not to speak of the really ugly power play. But if nothing else, there was at least a little fight in the Gophers tonight - something we haven’t seen, quite frankly, for a long time, in a 3 – 3 tie with North Dakota.

Certainly, it was a much better first period for the Gophers than last night. The intensity wasn’t there for either team as it seemed each team was kind of settled in a little more off the bat. Both teams struggled on the power play in the period, and it was very evenly played.

But finally, the Gophers worked to make a play, and scored their first goal of the season.

A face-off in the Gopher zone was brought back to Ben Blood at the point. His shot was blocked by Jay Barriball, and he jumped all over it, racing past a flatfooted Blood. With some hustle from his teammates, they created a three on one. Jay was seemingly trying to pass, to Jordan Schroeder, but after a nice sliding play by Chay Genoway, he had no choice but to shoot – and he roofed it for the 1 – 0 lead which would last through the intermission.

Kent Patterson was excellent for the Gophers all game. Two of the goals were deflected in by Gophers and he certainly had his share of highlight saves, capped by stoning Danny Kristo on a breakaway.

Chay Genoway took advantage of two questionable penalty calls to put the Sioux in front. After a shot from the point deflected in off of Aaron Ness, Genoway crashed the net and put in his own rebound (which hit off the post), lying just inches off the goal line.

Mike Hoeffel and Taylor Matson quickly made the Sioux pay for another brutal tripping penalty call on the Gophers. Matson worked the puck out of the zone – and used his speed to draw the defender closer to the outside. Mike Hoeffel outraced everyone and banged home a one time pass from Matson, evening up the score while shorthanded.

The Gophers really evened up the face-offs after two periods, however they were still being out-shot 25 – 11.

The third period was ten minutes of two teams playing for a tie. Then two goals, and a frenzied finish and overtime worthy of this rivalry.

Mike Hoeffel scored his second goal of the game, crashing the net after Brad Eidsness got himself out of the crease chasing a dump in by Pat White. Hoeffel scooped in the loose puck and it seemed like the Gophers may take two points yet. But that lasted about a minute as Jake Marto used at least two Gophers as pinball posts, getting a timely final deflection past Patterson to tie the game.

The final few minutes of the third period were all played in the Sioux zone, with a couple of very close calls, highlighted by Aaron Ness’s shot that hit the post under Eidsness’s outstretched stick. But nothing was going to solve this deadlock as the teams split the points and will head separate directions until the middle of January.

There are still far too many players on this roster that can’t bring it very consistently; but hopefully, the Gophers can take this effort, and apply it more consistently. They will need to with Denver and Wisconsin on the schedule in the next three weeks.