Badgers lose just-found edge to split at UMD
Minnesota-DuluthÂ’s power play came alilve for three goals and goaltender Isaac Reichmuth played one of his strongest games to frustrate Wisconsin and give the Bulldogs a WCHA split with a 4-1 victory over the WCHA-leading Badgers, before 5,370 fans at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.
The Badgers broke a four-game losing streak with a 7-2 victory in FridayÂ’s first game, getting its high-octane offensive flow running smoothly in a return to sole possession of first place. But UMD, which had been in a seven-straight-loss tailspin, giving up seven goals a game twice in succession, played opportunist to return to the persistent hustle that made the Bulldogs look like a contender early in the season.
UMD, which hadn’t been scoring power-play goals or many goals of any variety in recent weeks, won their first home game since Thanksgiving weekend against Yale, and prevented the Badgers (15-6-2 WCHA, 19-7-2 overall) from gaining a four-point hold on first place in the WCHA – a pivotal opportunity for Wisconsin, which takes a WCHA break in the weekend coming up. It also was the first time the Badgers had lost on the road after 10 victories and a tie.
The only even-strength goal of the game was scored by UMD freshman Mason Raymond early in the second period, and it was a big goal — breaking a 1-1 tie and standing up as the game-winner. Otherwise the Bulldogs (6-13-3 WCHA, 9-17-4 overall) depended on Reichmuth, who stalled the Wisconsin power play at 1-for-6 while UMD went 3-for-6. The Badgers outshot UMD 32-21, including 26-15 through two periods, before the Bulldogs calmly held the third period to a 6-6 standoff in shots.
“He (Reichmuth) did a great job of making the first save, then they cleared the puck well,†said Wisconsin captain and senior defenseman Tom Gilbert. “We got running around and looked like we had no idea where we were going. My hatÂ’s off to them – they got their shots through on the power play, and they got guys in front. It was just frustrating to watch from our end.Ââ€
As usual, Gilbert was involved in the heaviest action at both ends. He was called for the only penalty of the first period, which led to Tim Stapleton capitalizing for the only goal of the opening session. Stapleton moved from right point to center point and fired a screened power-play slapshot that beat freshman goalie Shane Connelly at 7:55. Otherwise, the Badgers outshot UMD 11-7 for the opening period, but ReichmuthÂ’s play gave UMD the upper hand.
Early in the second period, Jack Skille appeared to tie the game 1-1 when he circled out from behind the net and fired a high shot from the left circle at 1:14. The puck caromed straight back out, and referee Scott Zelkin, at the right of the net, immediately pointed at the net, signaling goal. Zelkin then went over for a video review and reversed his decision, saying the video showed it hit the upper right joint of the crossbar and right post and ricocheted back out without ever entering the net.
Undismayed, the Badgers settled for a power play chance and tied it 1-1 just 30 seconds later, when Reichmuth blocked GilbertÂ’s power-play point shot and Joe Pavelski made quick work of the rebound from the left side.
But at 4:01 of the middle period, UMDÂ’s Raymond rushed up the left side and scored what looked like a shaky goal on ConnellyÂ’s part, but the 40-foot shot from outside the circle grazed a defensemanÂ’s stick and the slight misdirection eluded the Badger goalie for a 2-1 UMD lead.
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The Bulldogs never came close to dominating, in fact Wisconsin outshot UMD 15-8 in the second period, so it was up to Reichmuth and the bunching Bulldog defense to weathered some heavy Wisconsin pressure. But when UMD got another power-play chance, the Bulldogs clicked for a 3-1 edge. A pair of freshmen collaborated on this one, as Matt Niskanen shot from the left point and MacGregor Sharp knocked in the rebound from the left edge of the crease at 12:19.
Wisconsin increased the pressure early in the third but Reichmuth his hustling teammates seemed to disrupt the Badger flow. Suddenly passes started to miss targets, Badgers started overskating the puck, and the offensive flow that the Badgers had found Friday night vacated the premises in the third period Saturday.
UMD killed off a Wisconsin power play to start the final period, and when Gilbert was whistled for cross-checking at 11:23, the UMD power play clicked for the third time in the game. This time two more freshmen did the job, as defenseman Jason Garrison blasted from the left point and Nick Kemp deflected the puck past Connelly at 12:56.
UMD coach Scott Sandelin said: “We played better defensively and cut off the lanes better. All I know is, we beat a real good hockey team, and it felt damn good.Ââ€
Gilbert added the final message for the Badgers. “It doesnÂ’t matter how well we played last night – weÂ’ve got to be consistent.Ââ€
About the Author
John Gilbert is a lifetime Minnesotan and career journalist, specializing in cars and sports during and since spending 30 years at the Minneapolis Tribune, now the Star Tribune. More recently, he has continued translating the high-tech world of autos and sharing his passionate insights as a freelance writer/photographer/broadcaster. A member of the prestigious North American Car and Truck of the Year jury since 1993. John can be heard Monday-Friday from 9-11am on 610 KDAL(www.kdal610.com) on the "John Gilbert Show," and writes a column in the Duluth Reader.
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