FINAL Game Re-Cap: Goals-Minnesota 3 (Barriball, Hoeffel (SH), Hoeffel), North Dakota 3 (Genoway (PP), Genoway (PP), Marto) Shots on Goal-Minnesota 19, North Dakota 34 Penalties-Minnesota 15, North Dakota 13 Instant Analysis: While this game was officially played on Oct. 17, everyone who attended will swear it had a feel of a March WCHA Final Five or NCAA Tournament game. Goals were scored in every imaginable way, from even play, to power play to shorthanded, and the end result is a three-point weekend for North Dakota. The Gophers finally end their losing streak at Engelstad Arena, though they had a chance at escaping with two points, but allowed Jake Marto to hit the game-tying goal with seven minutes left to give the game its final score, 3-3. Much more, including quotes from both coaches, in Monday’s paper. END OF OT/FINAL-A game that neither team wanted to lose reached that conclusion, with each team gaining one point on a 3-3 tie. A game that saw lead’s change by the minute, and over 20 penalties throughout the course of the game had a rather uneventful overtime, not fitting the style and pace of the three regular periods. More on the final after press conferences conclude. 00:00 3rd-Regular time ends with a back and forth final two minutes, where each team had multiple chances for the game winning goal. Eidsness ventured too far out of the net yet again, and only a full body dive by Jake Marto stopped Hoeffel’s chance at the hat-trick and game-winner. On the other end with under 30 seconds to play, North Dakota had two shots that could have ended it, but each was saved by Patterson. Only fitting that a game of this magnitude and play goes to overtime. 5:33 3rd-Flynn of Minnesota and Hextall of North Dakota each receive two, two-minute penalties, for high sticking and unsportsmanlike conduct. 6:50 3rd-Less than two minutes later North Dakota responds. Jake Marto sent a shot from just outside the blue line, and it got through Patterson after Patterson’s vision of the shot was blocked by a Gophers defenseman. MINNESOTA 3, NORTH DAKOTA 3. 8:08 3rd-Mike Hoeffel scores in the clutch yet again. After a shot by Seth Helgeson went wide left of the net, Eidsness left the goal to reach for the puck. Hoeffel recovered the puck in front of the net, and punched it in for his second score of the net. Hoeffel has now scored the equalizer and go-ahead go to give the Gophers the late third-period lead. MINNESOTA 3, NORTH DAKOTA 2. 11:37 3rd-The Minnesota power play ends with a lot of passing, but no shots on goal. Action continues to go back-and-forth, as each team is looking for any lapse to try and capitalize. 13:37 3rd-Mario Lamoureux is sent to the box for the Sioux, after receiving a two minute penalty for cross checking. 14:16 3rd-Minnesota’s fourth line is providing the most energy at the most crucial time. Budish, Matson and Joe Miller are all pushing the puck, keeping play in North Dakota’s zone. Miller fired a one timer off a pass from Matson that sailed high, but the play by the Gophers fourth line could provide a spark to the rest of the team. 16:30 3rd-On the power play, Cade Fairchild misses a wide open look off the rebound, and the puck sails left of the net. By far the Gophers best chance tonight, and North Dakota escapes with the game still tied. 16:54 3rd-Minnesota will be on the penalty, as North Dakota’s Jake Marto is sent tot he box for aslashing. 17:02 3rd-A turnover by Minnesota sparks a three-on-two by North Dakota. On the drive, the shot is deflected by Gophers defenseman Kevin Wehrs. 2nd Intermission Re-Cap: Goals-Minnesota 1 (Hoeffel, SH) North Dakota 2 (Genoway PP, Genoway PP) Shots on Goal-Minnesota 4, North Dakota 12 Penalties-Minnesota 10, North Dakota 6 Instant Analysis: Where to begin? Do I start with the North Dakota fan proposing to his Minnesota girlfriend? Or should I start with the eight shot advantage in the period by the Sioux? While both are intriguing sub-plots, the story of the second period were the penalties, Chay Genoway and lead-changes. Each of the three goals scored in the period were during penalty play, two on power play, and one shorthanded. Minnesota spent a total of 20 minutes in the box, and North Dakota capitalized, scoring two goals courtesy of its best player, Chay Genoway. The Gophers started the second carrying over none of the momentum it had fought hard to earn in the first period. Only after the Sioux scored two-unanswered goals did Minnesota decide to play with the tenacity it had displayed in the first period, scoring on a Sioux power play. Hoeffel took the great pass by Taylor Matson and sent it to the top left of the net, tying the game up at two. As for the brawl, the end result was 10 players, five from each side, getting sent to the box. The fight just reminded everyone in the Arena of something already known; these two teams simply do not like each other. If the first two periods are any indication, we are in for a third period that I cannot find the adjective to describe. Stay tuned. 00:00 2nd-A wild three-goal second period, which also saw the lead change by as many times, comes to a close. A brawl, wedding proposal and oh yeah, some hockey, managed to occur in the span of 20 minutes. The Gophers entered the second period with none of the energy they displayed in the first, and the end result was a North Dakota equalizer by Chay Genoway on power play. On the next Sioux power play, North Dakota took their first lead of the night on Genoway’s second goal of the night, both on man-advantages. After that goal Minnesota seemed to regain its poise, and on yet another Sioux power play Minnesota scored an equalizer of its own, this time of the shorthanded variety, to tie the game at two, where the score remains after two periods of play. 4:16 2nd-The Sioux power play ends with a couple legitimate chances, but no goals, by North Dakota. Schroeder is back on the ice, so he appears to have just been shaken up on the previous play. 6:16 2nd-North Dakota will be on the power play again, as Minnesota’s Jake Hansen is sent to the box for interference. On the play, Jordan Schroeder limped off the ice, and after being tended to be a Gophers trainer is now sitting down on the bench. 8:37 2nd-Minnesota responds, with a short handed goal by Mike Hoeffel. After a North Dakota turnover, Taylor Matson skated down the right side of the ice, then found Hoeffel with a perfect pass. Hoeffel put the shot in the top left corner of the net, and this game is now tied. MINNESOTA 2, NORTH DAKOTA 2. 9:33 2nd-A wild second period continues, with Minnesota’s Jake Hansen getting sent to the box for tripping. North Dakota will be on yet another power play, and the door operator for the Gophers penalty box deserves a hefty raise. 13:05 2nd-The North Dakota power play ends with 50 seconds remaining, as Chay Genoway scores his second goal of the night. After a near miss that appeared to just miss passing the crease, Genoway cleaned up the puck and sent it in the net, giving the Sioux a one-goal lead. Minnesota’s one-goal lead is now a memory, as North Dakota has scored two-unanswered to put their lead at one. MINNESOTA 1, NORTH DAKOTA 2. 14:15 2nd-Intending to test the seating capacity of the penalty box, David Fischer is sent to the box for two minutes for tripping, putting the total number of Gophers now in the penalty box at six, for those scoring at home. North Dakota now has a one-man advantage on the ice. 14:55 2nd-More on the penalties and players at the intermission, but Sacchetti, Fairchild, Lucia, Hansen and Ness were all sent to the box for the Gophers, and Rowney, MacWilliam, Malone, Hextall and Trupp were sent to the box for the Sioux. 15:07 2nd-A shot on goal by Fairchild is stopped with a great chest save by Eidsness, but the real action is after the save, where a full-on brawl erupted. The ending result is 10 players sent to the box. Each team has an entire line in the box, and play is stopped as officials are trying to sort out the penalties. 17:14 2nd-Not as lucky this time, Danny Kristo sent a pass to Chay Genoway, who fired a shot that hit off Minnesota’s Aaron Ness and into the back of the net. The power play goal is Genoway’s second in as many days, and second of the season. MINNESOTA 1, NORTH DAKOTA 1. 18:34 2nd-The Gophers are issued a two-minute bench penalty for too many men on the ice. Serving the penalty will by Patrick White. 19:00 2nd-An extremely ill-advised pass by Mike Carman is stolen by North Dakota, setting off a two-on-none breakaway for the Sioux. Patterson makes a great save off the shot by Danny Kristo, and the rebound was shot by Jason Gregoire, but it missed the net. The Gophers are lucky this game is not tied up. 1st Intermission Re-Cap: Goals-Minnesota 1 (Barriball), North Dakota 0 Shots on Goal-Minnesota 7, North Dakota 13 Penalties-Minnesota 3, North Dakota 3 Instant Analysis: Clearly the lineup shuffling by Lucia has resulted in a renewed Gophers effort after one period. The demotion of two-thirds of the first line and the removal of the starting goalie, all done after just one regular season game, has every player on every line on their toes, as apparent from the constant hustle and effort displayed during the period. In goal, Kent Patterson has been outstanding through the first, stopping numerous chances by North Dakota by making glove, chest and kick saves. The Minnesota defense is also stepping up, clearing rebounds and not allowing any second-chance opportunities for the Sioux. North Dakota is playing with the same effort and physicality as last night, but the difference tonight is that the Gophers are matching their play. Thanks to a great defensive stop and subsequent goal by Barriball, Minnesota enters the second with a lead to protect; a rare occurrence of late for the Gophers at Engelstad Arena. 00:00 1st-The first period comes to a close, with Minnesota holding on to a one-goal lead. A much more solid effort tonight from Lucia’s squad, as they are playing with an energy and tenacity absent from last night’s defeat. 2:57 1st-After the puck was saved by Eidsness, Barriball fell to the ice, and the resulting extracurricular activity sends both Barriball and Chay Genoway to the box. Barriball received a penalty for diving, and Genoway was sent to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct. 3:33 1st-After a turnover by the Gophers in their zone, the Sioux’s Mario Lamoureux ducks a Minnesota defender and fires a shot, but Patterson makes a kick save to his right to preserve the Gophers lead. After the puck is cleared Minnesota’s Aaron Ness is sent to the box for holding,erasing the Gophers power play. 4:00 1st-North Dakota is a man down again, after David Toews received two minutes for slashing. 4:19 1st-The Sioux power play comes to a close, and both teams exchanged scoring chances during the power play. North Dakota managed two shots on goal, but both were blocked by Patterson. Minnesota also took advantage while short handed, forcing multiple turnovers and managing a shot of their own during the North Dakota power play. 6:20 1st-Minnesota’s David Fischer is sent to the box for tripping, giving North Dakota its first power play of the night. 7:43 1st-Minnesota’s power play ends with no threats to score, but it is clear early on from the hard-hitting and continual effort that as of at least the first period the Gophers are taking Lucia’s lineup changes to heart. 9:47 1st-North Dakota’s Chris VandeVelde is sent to the box, receiving two minutes for boarding. A huge difference between last night’s and tonight’s Minnesota team. Tonight’s team is playing aggresively, actively seeking out and swarming the puck, instead of the reactionary style of play of last night. 13:40 1st-Minnesota finally gets on the board in the series. After stealing the puck, senior Jay Barriball took it the length of the ice alone, and fired a shot that found the top right of the net. Apparently it didn’t take long for Barriball, who was demoted in the lineup from the first to third line, to get the message sent by Lucia. MINNESOTA 1, NORTH DAKOTA 0. 14:05 1st-A turnover by North Dakota in their own zone led to a Minnesota fast break, but the shot by freshman Zach Budish was glove saved by Eidsness. That shot was the first of the night for the Gophers. 15:03 1st-Great save by Patterson. North Dakota’s Ben Blood centered the puck to Brad Malone, who fired a one-timer that was chest saved by Patterson. First major threat of the night on either side results in no score. 17:00 1st-Three minutes in, and play is as of now even. The Gophers second line provided the most offense for the team of the night. On the North Dakota side, they had several good looks on crosses in front of the net, but no Sioux player was able to break free to put a shot on net.

Pregame festivities have concluded, both teams are ready to begin, and it is now time for Saturday night hockey in North Dakota.