With late goal, Carman helps U avoid another tie

The Gophers wanted to redeem themselves after a rough loss Friday -- and they succeeded, breaking a tie with Michigan State in the third period.

By JAMES V. DOWD, Special to the Star Tribune

Last update: November 29, 2009 - 12:45 AM

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GOPHERS MEN 2, (7) MICHIGAN STATE 1

Up next: vs. MSU Mankato • 7 p.m. Friday • Mariucci Arena • TV: FSN (tape delayed)

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EAST LANSING, MICH. - Having played well for more than 56 minutes at Munn Ice Arena and sitting with a 1-0 lead, Minnesota's Kent Patterson seemed on track to earn his first victory as a Gophers goaltender in his 11th career appearance. But before the sophomore could breathe the sigh of relief at the conclusion of the U's 2-1 victory, Michigan State gave Patterson and his team a 40-second scare that brought life to a crowd of 4,751.

No. 7 Michigan State (9-5-2, 6-2-2 CCHA) leveled the score 1-1 with just 3:25 remaining on a tough bounce that evoked uneasy sentiments on a Gophers (5-8-1, 3-6-1 WCHA) bench that was coming off a string of disappointing efforts.

Spartans forward Daultan Leveille shot wide and left of the Minnesota goal, but the puck caromed off of the end boards and bounced back into the goal crease behind Patterson. Michigan State junior Andrew Rowe was on the doorstep to tap it in.

"We've been struggling as of late, and we had a big loss last night," Gophers forward Mike Carman said. "Everyone was pretty down about that, and we wanted to redeem ourselves. They scored with a few minutes left, and I thought, 'Oh great, here we go again, another tie.'"

Carman took it upon himself to avoid the Gophers' sixth tie in the past eight games against the Spartans, notching the winner 39 seconds after Rowe evened the score. The senior was ready to head back to the Gophers bench when he saw his teammates keep the puck in the Michigan State zone and found an opening in coverage in the high slot.

"To tell you the truth, I was about to go change and I saw our guys keep it in," Carman said. "I turned around, and the puck popped out right in the slot. I just got it and picked my head up quick and just unloaded it on net. We had a nice screen, and I don't think the goalie ever saw it."

Minnesota sophomore Jordan Schroeder scored the game's only other goal at the 3:32 mark of the second period with a superlative effort worthy of his first-round draft status. The Gophers' sophomore danced through the right side of the Michigan State zone to evade sliding Michigan State defenseman Jeff Petry and then beat goaltender Drew Palmisano on his glove side while flying across the goal mouth from right to left.

The Gophers held Michigan State scoreless on two power-play attempts and outshot the Spartans 42-38.

Minnesota returns to action next weekend with a home-and-home series against Minnesota State Mankato, beginning Friday night.

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