UND heads to Christmas break with a winning record this season, but once again there will be a bad taste in its mouths.
Minnesota held off a late rally and sent to the Sioux to their sixth consecutive Western Collegiate Hockey Association split with a 4-3 decision Saturday night in a sold-out Ralph Engelstad Arena.
The Sioux (8-6-1 overall, 6-6 WCHA) are certainly in better position than they were a year ago at this point when they entered the break at 7-10-1. But still, they were disappointed that they were unable to capture their first regular-season home sweep in more than a year.
"I'm disappointed in our overall performance," said UND coach Dave Hakstol, who credited Minnesota's strong effort. "I don't want to be overcritical or anything of that nature, but to sweep a series in this league you have to have desperation through 60 minutes. We couldn't put that together, so that's what's disappointing.
"I'm not pointing fingers at any individuals. It's us as a team and it starts with the coach."
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For the second straight night, UND didn't generate much offense through the first two periods. They didn't sustain anything until the final four minutes of the game, when Ryan Duncan and Chris VandeVelde cut Minnesota's 4-1 lead to 4-3. Those goals fired up a crowd that was otherwise dormant for much of the game.
UND had a couple of chances down low in the final minute with an extra attacker on the ice, but freshman goaltender Alex Kangas (22 saves) shut the door on those attempts.
"It got a little hairy, but that happens a lot up here when they get a goal," Minnesota coach Don Lucia said. "We did a really good job keeping the crowd out of the game, and we feel really good about getting the win out of here. We'll have a happy bus ride home."
Minnesota improved to 9-8-1 overall and 5-7 in league play thanks to the play of its freshmen. Kangas was solid in net while rookie forward Mike Hoeffel, who scored a goal against the Sioux last season as a member of the U.S. Under-18 team, buried a pair of shots to lead the offense.
Hoeffel put Minnesota up early when he created a turnover at the blue line and beat Sioux goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureux high to the glove side from between the circles at 2:37 of the first.
The Sioux evened it at 13:47 when Darcy Zajac's centering pass went off T.J. Oshie's skate and past Kangas.
Then, Hakstol said, the momentum shifted Minnesota's way. The Sioux were unable to score on a power play - one of only two in the game - and shortly after it expired, Minnesota forward Blake Wheeler made it 2-1.
"For me, I look to several critical points in the game," Hakstol said. "I go all way the back to the first period and that power play generated no momentum for ourselves. Minnesota came out of that period with a one-goal lead."
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The other critical play Hakstol talked about was Minnesota's goal with 1.6 seconds left in the middle period.
Hoeffel put the Gophers up 3-1 early in the second, but the stinger came off of the stick of Ben Gordon. During a delayed penalty call on Chay Genoway, the Gophers got an extra attacker on the ice, maintained possession and Gordon buried a rebound of Wheeler's drive from the left circle.
"It's too bad we couldn't get something generated earlier," VandeVelde said. "We kind of took the first two periods off.
"We're a little down right now. We know we just have to work hard, regroup and hopefully after the break we can come back strong and be more consistent."
Notes: Lamoureux tied a school record Saturday by starting his 40th straight game. . . . Genoway, who played on defense Friday, was moved up to forward on Saturday. Jake Marto, who was scratched Friday, played Saturday. Ryan Martens, Kyle Radke, Michael Forney and Brent Davidson were scratches.
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