Bemidji Blasts Gophers 6-2 In Series Finale

It appears as though the Golden Gophers may have been turning the corner after their 0-3-1 start to the season, as Minnesota had won four of their previous five games heading into Sunday’s series finale against the Bemidji State Beavers. However, the Gophers were unable to build on their Saturday night victory and were embarrassed by the tune of a 6-2 defeat at Mariucci Arena.

The Beavers were able to take a 2-0 lead into the second period thanks to a pair of first period goals, both of which came directly from Minnesota giveaways. Senior defensemen David Fischer’s attempted pass went right to the tape of BSU’s Shea Walters in the neutral zone, and Walters broke in alone on Alex Kangas and beat him clean to make it 1-0. Later in the first period, Gophers forward Jordan Schroeder gained the Beavers zone and pulled up, but was checked off the puck and that resulted in a four-on-two. Both Minnesota defensemen backed far into their own zone, and allowed BSU’s leading scorer, Matt Read, to carry the puck deep into the offensive zone, and he beat Kangas with a high wrist shot.

“We’re not good enough to turn pucks over,” Gophers Head Coach Don Lucia said. “

That would be the end of Kangas’ first stint in net on this night, as sophomore Kent Patterson started the second period in net after Kangas allowed two goals on four shots.

Lucia said he considered starting Patterson, but opted to go with Kangas, who had won four of his past five starts. It’s still a bit unclear as to why Lucia went away from the rotation of Kangas and Patterson, as they had equal numbers after two weeks but Patterson, who Lucia said would play more this season, had rode the pine up until Kangas was yanked tonight.

Minnesota was able to cut BSU’s lead in half early in the second period, when Schroeder one-timed an Aaron Ness pass past BSU freshman goalie Mathieu Dugas. This was Schroeder’s second goal of the season – and the weekend.

However, the game would change later in the second period, as Minnesota freshman Zach Budish was called for a checking from behind penalty, which gave the Beavers a five minute power play and bounced Budish from the game in the process.

Unlike Friday night’s second period, where Bemidji State had an extended power play and failed to score, they capitalized tonight. After Tony Lucia hit a pipe on a short-handed breakaway, BSU gained the Minnesota zone, setup, and the end result was sophomore Jamie MacQueen first of two goals on the night.

At 19:59 of the second period, Schroeder would take a stupid cross-checking penalty to partially negate a UM power play, and that penalty gave the Beavers a power play just seconds into the third period.

“I thought it was a weak call,” Schroeder said. “That’s referees for you these days.”

That ‘weak call’ proved to be costly, as BSU defensemen Brad Hunt scores his second goal of the season to make it 4-1 Beavers. Hunt walked in from the point and went high on the blocker-side to beat Patterson.

Just 14 seconds later, McQueen would beat Patterson on a breakaway to make it 5-1, and then Aaron McLeod would walk in all alone from behind the UM net and beat Patterson on a soft backhand to chase Patterson from the game (Kangas came back in) and send thousands of Gopher fans heading towards the exits.

Sophomore Jake Hansen would add on a power play goal later in the game, but by then it was all but decided.

“We had some guys who had bad weekends,” Lucia said.

BSU Head Coach Tom Serratore had a much happier view on the two games.

“A monumental win,” Settatore said. “It’s an exciting time for us.”

The Gophers are now 4-5-1 heading into next weekend’s series against Minnesota-Duluth. The Bulldogs are 7-4-1 on the season and have some of the best forwards in the WCHA, including Jack and Mike Connolly (no relation) and Justin Fontaine.

It’s a critical series for Minnesota, as they currently sit in a tie for sixth place in the WCHA having played two more games than St. Cloud State, who they are tied with.