MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Mariucci Arena) -- The No. 7 Bemidji State University men’s ice hockey program felt the sting of defeat for the first time of the 2009-10 season Saturday as the University of Minnesota, buoyed strong special teams play, handed the Beavers a 4-1 non-conference loss at Mariucci Arena.
“Overall I thought it was a pretty good hockey game,” said BSU head coach Tom Serratore. “Did we put 60 minutes together? Obviously not.”
As always, special teams play was the difference. The Beavers were whistled for eight penalties and allowed a pair of power-play goals while failing to convert any of their four man advantage opportunities.
“[Minnesota] won the special teams battles tonight and typically the team that wins the special teams battles wins the games.”
The Beavers were the first to strike. Jordan George (F, Madison, Wis.) picked up a loose puck just inside the Beavers’ offensive zone, skated onto the doorstep alone and beat the Minnesota goaltender Alex Kangas one-on-one with a flip over his left shoulder just 2:03 into the game.
But the lead would not last long. After BSU netminder, Dan Bakala (So., Calgary, Alberta) denied the Golden Gophers on two point-blank shots, Nico Sacchetti found the puck unattended sitting on the goal line and put his first goal of the season in the back of the net to knot the game at 1-1.
The Beavers’ water-tight penalty-kill unit was put the test early in the second. At the 3:52 mark of the period, Chris Peluso (Sr., D, Wadena, Minn.) was sent to the penalty box to join Emil Billberg (Jr., F. Stockholm, Sweden), who was just 46 seconds into his penalty, giving the Golden Gophers a five-on-three advantage for 1:14. Minnesota would capitalize 45 seconds into the power-play with a Mike Hoeffel goal.
Then its was Bemidji State’s turn.
Four Minnesota infractions win the span of 57 seconds gave the Beavers 2:27 of five-on-three play midway though the second stanza. Ryan Cramer (Jr., F, International Falls, Minn.) got the BSU faithful out of their seats in a hurry when a wrister that rang of the right post slid along the goal line and through the crease, but that was all the Beavers would muster. BSU put six shots on goal, but Kangas stood strong and with every save, momentum grew for the Gophers.
Although BSU had its chances in the final 30 minutes of play, it would never recover. The Gophers took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission and piled on two goals in the third to move to 4-4-1 on the season.
Minnesota used the win to continue its dominance in a series that got its start early in the 2000-01 season. Seven times the Beavers have gone head-to-head with the Gophers and seven times BSU has come up short.
Bemidji State finished the game 0-4 on the power-play while the Beavers’ penalty-kill unit allowed two goals for the first time since Mar. 7, 2009--a streak spanning 12 games.
Bakala took the loss, allowing all four Minnesota goals, while piling up 25 saves in 60 minutes of work. He moves to 6-1-0 following his first collegiate loss.
Kangas turned away 21 BSU shots on goal and allowed just one goal improving to 4-3-0 with the victory.
Bemidji State and Minnesota conclude the nonconference series tomorrow in a rare Sunday evening affair. The opening face off is slated for 6:07 p.m. from Mariucci Arena.
--bsu--
