THIEF RIVER FALLS It maybe took Roseau longer than it should have to take control, but once the Rams did, they ended things in a hurry.
Top-ranked Roseau scored two goals in a span of 33 seconds midway through the second period en route to a 6-1 victory against Moorhead in the Section 8AA boys hockey championship game before 3,393 fans Wednesday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena.
The undefeated Rams (28-0) scored three goals on nine shots in the second period after outshooting Moorhead 18-3 in a first period that ended in a 1-1 tie.
Roseau's two-goal spurt in the second was started by Ben Nelson, who fired a shot from the faceoff circle that beat Moorhead goalie Logan Marks to the far side at 8 minutes, 25 seconds.
Then, with Moorhead on a power play, Dustin Moser scored on a backhand shot at 8:58 for a 3-1 lead.
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With standout Mike Lee in goal for Roseau, both head coaches admitted the two-goal edge put Roseau in great position to return to the state tournament. Ram senior forward Moser felt the same way.
"I think it was the breaking point of the game," he said. "I think it got us rolling, and we just kept scoring."
Moorhead coach Dave Morinville said the goals were backbreakers, especially the shorthanded tally.
"To give up two goals like that is a killer," he said. "They pressure you all over the ice on the power play. We knew they were going to do that."
Defending state champion Roseau meets a yet-to-be-determined opponent a week from today in the first round of the state tournament in St. Paul. Moorhead, which met Roseau for the fourth straight year in the section final, ended its season at 14-10-3.
The Rams started quickly, taking an 18-0 edge in shots on goal before the Spuds put their first shot on net with 1 minute, 35 seconds remaining in the first period.
Nick Oliver staked the Rams to a 1-0 lead at 3:50 of the first. The junior forward put a rebound of an Adam Knochenmus shot past Marks. The goalie couldn't cover the puck and Oliver slid it underneath him.
The Spuds tied it with just their third shot on goal with three seconds left in the first. Brock Buckallew put a rebound past Lee.
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The first-period shots had Roseau ahead 18-3, but the score was tied at 1.
"It's nice to win when you're not on top of your game," Roseau coach Scott Oliver said. "And I'd give Moorhead credit for getting us off our game."
After Roseau's two-goal spurt in the second, Tyler Landman made it 4-1 with two minutes left in the period. The junior forward took a pass off the boards from Moser, came in alone and made a nice fake before slipping one past Marks.
Roseau finished with a 36-21 edge in shots on goal.
"Michael Lee is not going to give up a lot," coach Oliver said. "Any time he's in net and we get a lead, you feel good about it."
Morinville said the Rams are impressive.
"Congratulations to them," he said. "They're without a doubt the best team we've played this year."
