The University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team locked up the seventh seed in the National College Hockey Conference's post season Friday night at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn., despite a 3-2 overtime loss to St. Cloud State University.
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The regulation tie point assures UMD that they will play Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona next weekend in the NCHC Quarterfinals, while SCSU will travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. to face Western Michigan.
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UMD's power play needed just two chances to get on the board Friday, and the game's opening goal came at 16:54 of the first period on pass from Max Plante back to his brother Zam Plante, whose wrist shot snapped over the should of SCSU goaltender Isak Posch for the 1-0 lead. It was Zam Plante's first game back in the line-up after missing the Miami University (Ohio) series, and sixth goal of the season for his 18th point.
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The Bulldogs built on that lead midway through the second frame when Dominic James found Anthony Menghini all alone in the slot. The sophomore sniper patiently picked Posch's five-hole to put UMD ahead 2-1 at 9:34.
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A costly Bulldog turnover in front of UMD goaltender Adam Gajan helped the Huskies cut their deficit with just 1:52 left in the second frame, and after 40 minutes of action, the Bulldogs took a one goal advantage into the second intermission.
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St. Cloud State emptied their net with a little more than four minutes left in the period to play for the win, and the gamble paid off with a game-tying goal with just 22.8 seconds left in regulation. The Huskies outshot UMD 14-9 in the third period en route to the game-tying tally.
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Once regulation ended, UMD had locked in seventh seed in the NCHC postseason, but overtime loomed for the Bulldogs, who have played into overtime in their last three skates. A penalty with 1:39 left in extra time led to the Huskies game-winner with a mere 28.6 left on the clock – and snapped UMD's four game-winning streak against St. Cloud State.
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Gajan and Posch each made 27 saves – both teams put 29 shots on goal. The Bulldogs were 1-of-2 on the power play, while SCSU was 1-of-3.
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The Bulldogs (12-17-4, 8-12-3) will put the wraps on the regular season tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m.
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BULLDOG NOTES: SCSU snapped UMD's four game winning streak against them but extended the Bulldogs winless streak in St. Cloud … UMD is now winless in four games in St. Cloud … Max Plante joins Jayson Shaugabay with 23 points (7g, 16a) on the season in a tie for the second most points by a Bulldog.
