University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Salvages 3-3 Tie to Alaska Fairbanks
10/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota got goals from Ryan Potulny, Blake Wheeler and Sertich and used solid goaltending from freshman Jeff Frazee in his first career start. The Maroon and Gold opens the WCHA season next weekend with a series at Mariucci Arena against intrastate rival Minnesota State.
The first period scoring consisted of three power-play goals with the Golden Gophers netting two lamplighters to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. For the second consecutive night, Alaska Fairbanks drew first blood, scoring at 1:28 when a weak shot by Curtis Fraser deflected off the skate of Minnesota defenseman Nate Hagemo to slide under the legs of UM goaltender Jeff Frazee.
Minnesota bounced back with two power-play goals, beginning at 8:38 when Tyler Hirsch passed across the slot for Ryan Potulny to knock in past UAF goaltender Chad Johnson low on the glove side. Kris Chucko picked up the second assist on the play.
At 14:14, the Maroon and Gold earned their first lead of the night when a rebound from a Phil Kessel shot came to Blake Wheeler on the left side to fire past Johnson high to the glove side. Alex Goligoski was credited with the second assist on the power-play goal.
Minnesota out-shot the Nanooks, 19-9, in the opening period and went 2-for-2 with the man advantage.
The second period saw only one power-play goal as Alaska Fairbanks knotted the game at 2-2 at the 13:33 mark. From behind the UM net, Ryan McLeod passed the puck out front for Lucas Burnett to corrall, wheel around and beat Frazee via the 5-hole. Nathan Fornataro earned the second assist.
The second period saw more sloppy play, but UAF controlled play for the most part, out- shooting the Golden Gophers, 13-7.
Alaska Fairbanks notched the go-ahead goal at 11:59 of the third period, but Minnesota bounced back 46 seconds later to knot the game at 3-3. With the first even-strength goal of the night, UAF took a 3-2 lead when Aaron Lee made a great behind-the-back pass out front for Kelly Czuy to one-time past Frazee on the stick side.
Minnesota responded at 12:45 with an even-strength goal of its own - Andy Sertich's first marker of the season. Senior captain Gino Guyer picked up a loose puck in the Nanook zone and fed Sertich down low to stickhandle and beat Johnson with a low shot.
Each squad tallied 12 shots on net in the third period. The overtime session saw chances on both ends of the ice with UM out-shooting Alaska Fairbanks, 3-2. For the game, the Golden Gophers out-shot the Nanooks, 41-37. Both teams went 2-for-5 on the power play.
Game notes
Minnesota is now 0-3-2 in its last five games against teams from Alaska.
The Golden Gophers now own a 2-1-1 all-time record in the series vs. Alaska Fairbanks.
UM has scored a power-play goal in its first two games of the season.
Freshman goaltender Jeff Frazee made his first casreer start tonight.
Minnesota is still looking for its 1,500th win in program history tonight. The Golden Gophers own a 1,499-847-139 all-time record in 84-plus seasons of competition.
The Maroon and Gold has not lost two straight home games since getting swept by Michigan Tech on Jan. 21-22, 2005. That sweep also marks the last time UM has been swept by a unranked opponent.
The Golden Gophers have not been swept by a non-conference opponent since opening the 1999-2000 season with two losses at Maine.
Current Golden Gopher streaks:
- Ryan Potulny: two-game goal streak (2-0- -2)
- Blake Wheeler: two-game goal streak (2-0- -2)
- Tyler Hirsch: two-game point streak (0-2- -2)
Minnesota has not allowed more than four goals since a 5-5 tie to Alaska Anchorage on Feb. 12, 2005, a span of 12 games.
UM is unbeaten in 25 of its last 28 and in 17 of its last 19 games against teams from outside the WCHA.
With his assist tonight, Tyler Hirsch now has 95 career points (27-68--95).
With his goal tonight, Gino Guyer now has 95 career points (38-57--95).
Minnesota has now played in four consecutive overtime games, not including the 4-3 exhibition win over Alberta on Oct. 6.
UM had its first overtime tie since the 5-5 tie to Alaska Fairbanks on Feb. 12, 2005.
The Golden Gophers' 0-1-1 start to the season is its worst in the first weekend of play since opening the 1999-2000 season with two losses at Maine.
Minnesota's top two lines (Sertich-Guyer-Chucko and Hirsch-Potulny-Wheeler) accounted for three goals and three assists tonight.
Phil Kessel recorded his first career point with an assist in the first period.
The Maroon and Gold owns a 12-9-6 record under Head Coach Don Lucia as the nation's top-ranked team.
Minnesota's Andy Sertich was named the Easton Player of the Game.
