University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Snap Streak With 3-1 Win Over Michigan Tech
12/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Mike Howe scored two goals as Minnesota snapped a four-game winless streak with a 3-1 victory over Michigan Tech on Saturday at Mariucci Arena.
The Gophers, who were 0-3-1 over their past four games, got goals from Howe in the first and second periods and controlled play in the final two stanzas to roll past the Huskies and improve to 8-7-1 overall and 4-6 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Michigan Tech dropped to 6-7-1 overall and 5-6-1 in the conference. The Huskies won Friday’s opening game 3-2 in overtime and had won four of their past five games at Mariucci Arena.
Howe, playing on the Gophers’ fourth line, entered the game with one goal all season and scored his first goal after Minnesota received an early break just 1:23 into the game. Michigan Tech had an apparent goal disallowed when one of the Huskies’ forwards was ruled in the crease. The Gophers took advantage a minute and a half later when Howe scored the game’s first goal. Kyle Okposo was attempting a cross-ice pass that deflected off a Michigan Tech defender. Howe scooped up the loose puck in the slot and backhanded a shot into the upper corner of the net.
Michigan Tech tied the game at the 8:49 mark as Peter Rouleau stayed with a loose puck in the crease and poked it into the net. The play started when Gophers’ goaltender Jeff Frazee made an outstanding save on the Huskies’ Tyler Shelast. However, Frazee lost track of the rebound between his legs and, before Minnesota could clear the puck, Rouleau knocked it into the net. John Kivisto also assisted the play for the Huskies, who were held to just six shots in the opening period.
The Gophers took the lead on another goal by Howe on a similar play at 8:57 of the second period. Stu Bickel launched a shot from the blueline into the chest of Huskies’ goaltender Michael-Lee Teslak, who appeared to have the puck controlled. However, it bounced free under his legs and Howe was in perfect position to knock in the rebound. Ben Gordon passed to Bickel and also picked up an assist.
Minnesota outshot the Huskies 16-11 for the second period despite 4:55 of Michigan Tech power play time, including a five-on-three that lasted for 19 seconds.
The Gophers went ahead 3-1 on a rebound goal by Kyle Okposo as Ryan Flynn took a shot that was saved by Teslak and bounced off the pad to Okposo, who slammed home the rebound at a side angle for his sixth goal of the season. Cade Fairchild started the play and picked up an assist for the fourth time in five games.
Minnesota held a 37-19 advantage in shots for the game, including a 13-2 edge in the third period. Frazee had 18 saves for the Gophers and Teslak stopped 34 shots for Michigan Tech.
