Dec. 9, 2006
From Minnesota Athletics
HOUGHTON, Mich. (www.gophersports.com) -- Using a three-goal first period and three-point nights from Kyle Okposo and Tyler Hirsch, the top-ranked University of Minnesota men's hockey team earned a 4-1 win over Michigan Tech tonight in Houghton, Mich. The Golden Gophers (14-1-3, 8-0-3 WCHA) took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission and never looked back to push their nation's best unbeaten streak to 17 games (14-0-3, 12-0-3 WCHA).
Okposo tallied two goals and an assist, while Hirsch had totals of 1-2--3 to help the Maroon and Gold move its road unbeaten streak to 19 games (15-0-4) and its WCHA unbeaten streak to 23 games (19-0-4). Minnesota got a strong netminding effort from Kellen Briggs who improved to 7-0-2 on the season and moved into sole possession of second place on the school's career wins list with his 74-28-8 record. The Huskies (6-7-2, 3-6-2), meanwhile, saw their starting goaltender - Michael-Lee Teslak - pulled from the game after the Golden Gophers jumped ahead 3-0.
Minnesota out-skated Michigan Tech in a wild first period that featured numerous offensive chances and several big hits. The Golden Gophers got on the board at 10:51 with Hirsch picking up a loose puck from a Mike Vannelli shot and beating Teslak low to the glove side from the left circle. Okposo gained the second assist on the power-play goal. With the goal, Hirsch now has a point in 11 of 13 games this season.
The Maroon and Gold pushed its lead to two just four minutes later with Okposo's first goal of the night. Erik Johnson threaded a long pass from the UM blue line to spring Okposo on a breakaway where he faked a forehand shot and went high over Teslak with a backhander to push his goal-scoring streak to four games. Hirsch got the second assist on the play.
At 16:32, Minnesota made it 3-0 with Tony Lucia's third goal as a Golden Gopher. Blake Wheeler gained the MTU zone, fought through a check and fed Lucia who shot from a sharp angle at the left circle, beating Teslak low to the glove side. Mike Vannelli was credited with the second assist on the tally. For the period, Minnesota out-shot Michigan Tech 13-8. After the period, Teslak was pulled in favor of Rob Nolan.
The second period saw the last of the game's scoring as both teams lit the lamp once to make it a 4-1 score at the second intermission. Okposo pushed the score to 4-0 just 47 seconds into the period with his second marker of the night. On a beautiful tic-tac-toe play in the Husky zone, Alex Goligoski fed Hirsch who found Okposo on the far side to beat Nolan to the glove side. With the goal, Okposo now leads the team in goals (14) and points (22).
The Huskies finally got on the board with an unorthodox shorthanded goal from Jake Wikens. With an off-setting penalty just expiring, MTU's Jimmy Kerr raced into the Minnesota zone where Briggs was attempting to clear a loose puck on the left boards. Kerr jarred the puck free for Wilkens to shoot into the open net from high in the Michigan Tech zone. For the period, Minnesota owned a 7-5 advantage on the shot board.
The third period saw no scoring and only 11 combined shots with the Golden Gophers out-shooting the Huskies, 7-4.
For the game, the Maroon and Gold finished with a 27-17 shot advantage. The two teams combined for 54 penalty minutes (Minnesota 13/26) and only one goal on 12 power-play opportunuties (Minnesota 1-for-6). Briggs got the win with 16 saves to remain undefeated on the season at 7-0-2, while Teslak got the loss with three goals allowed on 13 shots to fall to 3-4-1. Nolan allowed one goal on 14 shots.
