Gophers Take Three WCHA Points From Tigers, Tie 4-4 in Overtime

By Brian Deutsch:

 

"COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The No. 4/5 Minnesota men’s hockey took three of four conference points this weekend from Colorado College after skating to a 4-4 overtime tie with the Tigers on Saturday night. Seth Ambroz tallied a goal and an assist while both Travis Boyd and Nate Schmidt notched two assists each in the tie.

Minnesota (11-3-3 overall, 6-3-3 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) dominated the first period with three goals in the opening stanza. Colorado Springs native Tom Serratore opened the night with his second goal of the weekend just 4:39 into the game before Erik Haula deflected in a shot from Kyle Rau 34 seconds later at 5:13 for a power-play goal to make it a two-goal game. Minnesota would end the night 1-for-6 while on the advantage. Ambroz added his fourth goal of the year at 14:32 of the first. Schmidt would assist on the final two goals of the period – giving the junior a helper in six-straight games.

After Rylan Schwartz put the Tigers (8-8-2, 5-4-1) on the board at 8:30 of the second period, Mike Reilly would reclaim a three-goal lead for the Gophers with his second goal of the year at 15:41 with Boyd’s second assist of the night.

However, the lead would not last as the Tigers swung momentum in their favor with a pair of quick goals early in the third from Alex Krushelnyski before Schwartz found the net for the second time on Saturday with 24 seconds left in regulation for the equalizer with the Colorado College net empty.

Neither team would break the tie in overtime as the game would end in a 4-4 tie.

Adam Wilcox made 23 saves in net for Minnesota to move to 10-2-3 in his rookie season while Josh Thorimbert made 25 saves to move to 4-4-1 on the year. The Minnesota penalty kill went 3-for-4 on the night while the Gophers’ held the shot advantage at 29-27.

Minnesota returns to action later this month with the Mariucci Classic on Dec. 29-30. This year’s tournament opens with defending national champion Boston College taking on Alabama in Huntsville on Dec. 29 at 4 p.m. The Gophers will follow against Air Force at 7 p.m. Air Force and UAH face off at 4 p.m. on Dec. 30 followed by a rematch of last year’s Frozen Four semifinal between Boston College and Minnesota at 7 p.m."