Gophers Shut Out Bulldogs 3-0

Sweep Has Team Leading WCHA Standings

Halfway through a scoreless hockey game, the Gophers were fortunate to still be even with the visiting Bulldogs. UMD used strong fore-check pressure to keep Minnesota (6-0-0, 4-0-0 WCHA) pinned in their own end for long stretches.

That they did not trail was due largely to the efforts of goalie Noora Räty who stymied the Bulldogs (3-3-0, 2-2-0 WCHA) in an often-spectacular fashion.

“When we were at maybe not our best, Noora was at her best and kept us in the game and played extremely well, obviously, earning her first shutout as a Gopher,” Coach Brad Frost said.

The Minnesota penalty kill, which had struggled through the first two weeks of the season in allowing six power-play goals, turned the tide in the Gophers’ favor this time. While paired together on the kill, Brittany Francis sent Emily West in alone and the junior beat goaltender Jennifer Harss upstairs at 12:10 of the second period.

“Fran picked the puck up, it just happened to squirt past the two of their forwards,” West said. “Fran made the perfect pass, and for some reason, their D were all on one side, so got a lucky break and finally finished.”

It was West’s fifth goal and second shorthander of the season.

Play became more physical from that point, with five penalties being assessed in the remainder of the period, and the increase in intensity seemed to inspire Minnesota’s play.

“I don’t think they have anybody who is purposely going to try and cause some commotion, and I don’t think we have anybody like that either,” Frost said. “If somebody does cause a little bit, both teams have some people who certainly won’t shy away from it. It was heated, as it always is, but it was a lot of fun.”

“That got me going a little bit, got the adrenaline rush,” Kelli Blankenship said.

Blankenship, whose senior season started slowly due to a concussion suffered in the first game, took a feed from Terra Rasmussen along the end boards, and wrapped the puck around Harss on the far side for her first goal two minutes into the third session.

“It felt so good,” Blankenship said. “Especially after the fact, and I look and all my teammates are so excited. That just made it so much better.”

When the Bulldogs went on the power play ten minutes later with hopes of getting back into the contest, Chelsey Jones broke their backs with another shorty. Rasmussen once again had the only assist. Both of the team’s shorthanded goals were keyed by long breakout passes to set up the lone rush.

“I think it is more of a common sense thing,” West said. “It opens up a lot of stuff, so if it is open, we’ll definitely do it. And if not, there’s always room to skate underneath and just dump it in and get the puck back on the fore check.”

The coach was happy to see Räty earn her first collegiate shutout after allowing a single goal late in each of her previous three starts.

“You can just see how ticked off she is,” Frost said. “Not because she is dying to get that shutout, but more because she just hates to get scored on. And it’s a pretty darn good attitude to have.”

Managing the goaltender situation promises to be complicated, factoring in Räty’s absences to play for the Finnish national team while trying to keep the other goalies involved.

“I think Alyssa [Grogan] is playing very well in practice, and we just need to get her to work a couple of kinks out in her game, and I know she is willing to do that,” Frost said. “And Jenny [Lura] continues to work hard in practice, too. They’re going to get their opportunities – Noora’s not going to be playing [every game] until she leaves.”