HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Von Braun Center) -- It was Déja Vu all over again.
For the second straight game, Bemidji State University and University of Alabama-Huntsville found themselves locked in a 1-1 tie after 60 minutes of play. And just as they had 18 hours earlier, the Beavers found the back of the net in overtime to gain a 2-1 victory and completed the College Hockey America sweep over the Chargers Sunday at Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala.
This time Ben Kinne (So., F, St. Paul, Minn.) played the role of the hero. The sophomore picked up a UAH turnover on his own blue line, sliced through the Chargers’ defense and fired a slap shot over Cameron Talbot’s shoulder to clinch the game for BSU just 61 seconds into the extra frame.
The overtime victory keeps the Beavers’ six-game unbeaten streak in tact at 5-0-1. In addition to sharing the nation’s longest unbeaten streak with Alaska (5-0-1), BSU is off to its best start since the team went 11-0-0 to open the 1984-85 campaign.
Despite the absence of goals during the opening 40 minutes of play, there was no lack of scoring opportunities. The Chargers held a 12-9 lead in shots after the first period and a 24-19 advantage after two, but the goaltenders were sharp and their stingy play set up a third-period battle for two points in the College Hockey America standings.
Kevin Morrison scored his second goal of the season to put the Chargers up 1-0 just 1:31 into the final 20-minute stanza with help from Cody Campbell and Andrew Coburn.
The goal put Bemidji State on its heels and left the visitors just 18:29 from a series split and their first loss of 2009-10. But just as he has all season Matt Read (Jr., F, Ilderton, Ontario) came through in the clutch. The junior recorded his third goal of the weekend at the 9:29 mark, picked off a UAH pass on the fore check, skated to the net, beat Talbot with a hesitation move and delivered the unassisted equalizer.
Each team went on the power-play one last time in the game’s final 10 minutes, but the goalies proved to be impenetrable and for the second time in an many contests and the third time in four games, the Beavers were headed to overtime.
BSU began the five-minute, sudden death period on the man advantage for the first 40 seconds, but it was UAH that got the best scoring chance, short-handed, forcing Dan Bakala (So., G, Calgary, Alberta) to make his career-high 31st save to keep the Beavers’ hopes alive. Just seconds later, a turnover in BSU’s defensive end would spark a Bemidji State rush and Kinne lifted the puck past Talbot to seal the win.
A total of eight penalties were called in the game, but special teams were a non-factor as BSU failed to score on three power-play opportunities, while UAH came up empty on five tries.
Bakala’s fourth career victory extends his personal unbeaten streak to five games, 4-0-1, and accounted for BSU’s fifth win. He finished the weekend 2-0-0 with 60 saves and just two goals allowed in 124:45 between the pipes.
Talbot made 20 saves Sunday, but took the loss and falls to 3-5-0 on the season.
The Beavers have now needed extra time to decide their fate in three of their first six games and remain unbeaten in overtime this season posting a 2-0-1 record.
The series sweep allows BSU to take a 32-27-3 advantage in the all-time series as the Beavers have now won the last eight meetings with Ala.-Huntsville.
Bemidji State (5-0-1:2-0-0 CHA) continues CHA play this weekend as it welcomes Robert Morris University (2-4-0: 0-0-0 CHA) to the John S. Glas Fieldhouse. The series is set to begin at 7:35 p.m. Friday with the series final schedule for a 7:05 opening face off.
--bsu--
