5 - 4
When the schedule came out and you saw the first WCHA series being up in Minnesota against the Gophers, what were you thinking? At most we were probably hoping to be competitive, have a good showing, prove to the rest of the conference that we belonged.
As last week passed some belief started to creep in. Maybe we have something here, maybe we can do more than just be competitive, maybe we can steal one in Minneapolis. Despite blowing a 4-0 lead, the Mavs pretty much came into Maricucci kicked the Gophers in the face and announced to the WCHA , here we are, you're arena isn't that loud.
First Period
UNO comes out blazing, out-shooting the Gophers by the time the first tv timeout rolls around. Just 38 seconds in the Mavs get a power play and get off 6 shots. No luck.
Searfoss takes a tripping penalty and the Mavs are on the PK, as they've shown us so far this year, they're up to the task, penalty killed.
UNO gets a pp minutes later and capitalize right away, Purslow from Martin and Olimb.
Searfoss takes a tripping penalty and the Mavs are on the PK, as they've shown us so far this year, they're up to the task, penalty killed.
UNO gets a pp minutes later and capitalize right away, Purslow from Martin and Olimb.
1-0
Just over a minute later, Mavs are back on the PP. Like the last one, UNO capitalizes right away. Hudson, playing out of his mind to start the season gets the goal with helpers from Purslow and Marin.
2-0
The Mavs are outplaying, out-shooting and out-skating the Gophers in their own house, dream scenario.
Three minutes later - surprise! Even strength goal from Matt White. (Assists Martin and Purslow) You're thinking to yourself this is too good to be true, right? It eventually sort of turned out that way but for the moment, anyone in attendance had to be shocked.
Three minutes later - surprise! Even strength goal from Matt White. (Assists Martin and Purslow) You're thinking to yourself this is too good to be true, right? It eventually sort of turned out that way but for the moment, anyone in attendance had to be shocked.
3-0
The first ends with a three goal lead, a 20-6 shot advantage and no sign of the Mavs slowing down. Perhaps it was the size of the ice, that extra 15 feet of width sure seemed to help out the fast skating Mavs. Whatever it was, UNO came in, no intimidation and just burned the building down.
Second Period
In what would become a disturbing trend, Minnesota gets a power play, one of the next 7 to come. Purslow is sent off for interference, penalty killed. Minutes later Broadhurst finds Ambroz in a 2 on 1, GOAL.
4-0
Then here comes the parade to the penalty box, Ensign, too many men on the ice, Young, Raubenheimer. For the third game in a row a freshman commits a major penalty and gets tossed. For the second game in the row, UNO suffers another penalty during and puts themselves down 5 on 3. For the second week in a row they kill it but Minnesota scores shortly later. Before the period is over, the Gophers score with 25 seconds remaining, a killer goal that would come back to haunt them later.
4-2
Third Period
Third Period
The third starts much the same way that the second went, Mavs shorthanded. Just under three minutes into the period the Gophers score and it's time to hold on to your butts.
4-3
Not much going on for the Mavs the rest of the period. The game gets to under five minutes and you start to wonder, are the Mavs actually gonna do it, are they gonna beat Minnesota in their own house in their first WCHA game? the Gophers bring you back to reality quickly and hopes and dreams are fading. Jay Barriball finds the back of the net and just like that, thoughts of winning turn into hoping just to get a point out of the game.
4-4
As the clock ticks and you're hoping for zeros, overtime and to escape with at least a point, the Mavs show their resiliency. Alex Hudson, probably the team MVP so far, gets the goal from Olimb and Ambroz.
5-4
Minnesota pulls the goalie, Mavs can't find the empty netter but fight it off. Mariucci Arena, 10,000 fans, 5-4 Mavs, thanks for coming everyone. A tussle breaks out at the end of the game but nothing major.
Mavs go on the road to Minneapolis in their first WCHA game ever and don't just earn points, they get a win.
Not to brag but your humble corespondent picked the Mavs to win on Friday, missing it by one goal. Is the same thing possible tomorrow. Who knows? The Mavs came out firing and had control early. With one game under their belt in Mariucci it's unlikely that they can feel any intimidation for the second game. But if they put themselves in a hole early and that crowd awakens, it's hard to say.
One thing to be mindful of, penalties. Some of it tonight seemed a little suspect but regardless, the Mavs seem to want to make things difficult for themselves. Three games in a row now they've had to kill off a 5 minute major and twice in a row a 5 on 3. While the percentage is still high due to last weekend, relying on the PK is never a good strategy, especially away from home against a team and a crowd looking for some revenge for the night before.
Mavs go on the road to Minneapolis in their first WCHA game ever and don't just earn points, they get a win.
Not to brag but your humble corespondent picked the Mavs to win on Friday, missing it by one goal. Is the same thing possible tomorrow. Who knows? The Mavs came out firing and had control early. With one game under their belt in Mariucci it's unlikely that they can feel any intimidation for the second game. But if they put themselves in a hole early and that crowd awakens, it's hard to say.
One thing to be mindful of, penalties. Some of it tonight seemed a little suspect but regardless, the Mavs seem to want to make things difficult for themselves. Three games in a row now they've had to kill off a 5 minute major and twice in a row a 5 on 3. While the percentage is still high due to last weekend, relying on the PK is never a good strategy, especially away from home against a team and a crowd looking for some revenge for the night before.
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