Big lead disappears as U, Huskies tie

Dave Schwarz, Associated Press

St. Cloud State’s Garrett Roe skated past the Gophers’ Mike Howe during the first period Saturday night. Roe’s goal in the third period gave the Huskies a 4-4 tie. Roe’s goal gave him four for the weekend series.

In what seemed to be a mirror image, the Gophers and Huskies both changed goalies, both had a player score two goals and wound up with a mirror-like score.

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune

Last update: January 13, 2008 - 12:30 AM

ST. CLOUD - The Gophers and St. Cloud State went into Saturday's WCHA game with identical overall records. And both teams had 32 shots until the last second. Both had to pull their starting goalie. Both had a player score two goals.

And, as can be surmised, the game ended in a 4-4 tie after a five-minute scoreless overtime. The outcome enabled the Huskies (11-10-3, 6-8-2 WCHA) to keep their hex going over the Gophers. St. Cloud State is 4-0-3 in their past seven meetings.

Minnesota led 4-1 late in the second before freshman center Garrett Roe of the Huskies scored at 19 minutes, 5 seconds of the second period. Roe also had the tying goal midway through the third period.

This performance came one night after he had two goals Friday in the Huskies' 3-1 victory at Mariucci Arena.

"[Roe] was the player of the weekend," Gophers coach Don Lucia said. "He's a natural scorer. He will be a 200-point guy in college, and you don't see many of those anymore."

Freshman Alex Kangas relieved goalie Jeff Frazee after the first period and took the loss hard. "We're disappointed," Kangas said. "When you have a 4-1 lead, you think you can hold on to that, and I am partly the blame for that. You have to make one of those stops in the third."

He didn't; St. Cloud State scored twice. Nate Dey re-energized the full house of 6,178 by scoring at 3:39 of the third period to cut the Gophers lead to 4-3. Then Roe, alone in the left circle, scored his 15th goal of the season at 9:37.

"He's got my number, so I'm glad we don't play St. Cloud again," Kangas said.

The Gophers led 2-1 after the first period on goals by Tony Lucia (1:27) and Blake Wheeler (19:19). But what had the arena buzzing was the Huskies' goal in between and another shot by the home team in the last seconds.

Junior Jeff Frazee let in a soft goal at 4:54 by the Huskies' Brent Borgen. More bizarre was what happened at the end of the opening period. Huskies defenseman Matt Stephenson's 120-foot shot from his blue line went in. Frazee, appearing nonchalant, tried to steer the shot aside with his stick. He missed it. Only an offsides call spared Frazee from further embarrassment.

Lucia had seen enough. He switched to Kangas for the second period.

"I've been on that side, too," Kangas said. "[Borgen's goal] took kind of a weird bounce. Hopefully he [Frazee] can put it behind him."

Freshman winger Mike Hoeffel scored twice in the second period. That put Minnesota ahead 4-1 and prompted the Huskies to switch goalies. Good move. Freshman Dan Dunn replaced Jase Weslosky and stopped all 16 shots he faced.

But Roe got a rebound goal at 19:05 that started the Huskies' comeback.

"The third period will be a great teaching tape on Monday," Lucia said. "You can't be afraid to have the puck on your stick, and we played that way in the third period."

In overtime, the Huskies had one great chance. Kangas stopped Andreas Nodl from 5 feet at 1:11.

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