Gophers

Pesky Beavers spoil plan for U men

Bemidji State tied it up with 19 seconds left, but the Gophers still get home ice advantage in playoffs.

By Roman Augustoviz

March 5, 2011 at 7:44AM

The Gophers’ Mark Alt, left, and Bemdji State’s Jordan George collided during the first period Friday night in Bemidji, Minn. The Gophers took a 3-2 lead on Patrick White’s goal with 3:48 to go, but Brad Hunt scored the equalizer with 19 seconds left in regulation, and neither team scored in overtime. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

BEMIDJI, MINN. - Some ties are better than others.

The Gophers' 3-3 tie with Bemidji State at the sold-out Sanford Center on Friday was disappointing to the visiting head coach and his players.

They had victory within their grasp. Senior center Patrick White scored from the edge of the crease with 3 minutes, 40 seconds left in regulation to give the Gophers a 3-2 lead.

But a controversial hooking call on freshman Nick Bjugstad with 40 seconds left in the third period enabled the Beavers to pull their goalie and attack with six skaters against four.

It worked. BSU defenseman Brad Hunt scored from the high slot with 19 seconds left to force an uneventful one-shot-per-side overtime.

The tie did secure home ice for the Gophers next weekend for the first round of the WCHA playoffs. What still has to be decided is their place in the standings. Going into Saturday's final regular-season games, the Gophers remained in fifth place, one point ahead of Colorado College. The tie also extended their unbeaten streak to six games (4-0-2).

Coach Don Lucia said his Gophers (15-12-6, 12-10-5 WCHA) probably would have won if not for the late penalty.

"We did a great job of controlling [play] after we scored," he said. "They didn't have any end zone time or opportunities.

"But we made a mistake. Didn't get a puck in deep and took a penalty and ultimately they scored on a 6-on-4."

Thoughts on the penalty?

"There is nothing you can do about it," Lucia said.

"They scored with 3:40 left, and we were left for dead," said coach Tom Serratore of the Beavers (12-16-5, 8-14-5).

Not quite. There was still a pulse.

"Brad [Hunt] got up on top," Serratore said, "and we needed to establish traffic" in front of Gophers goalie Kent Patterson.

Ryan Cramer, a 6-2, 210-pound forward, did that. And the puck on Hunt's shot seemingly had eyes for the net. It was only his second goal this season.

"Obviously, we were looking for two points tonight, especially when we got that third goal towards the end of the game," White said.

Bjugstad's penalty, White said, looked like a simple stick lift from the bench.

"Referees have different angles, and it's their call to make," he said.

White opened the scoring Friday with his fourth goal of the season at 1:34 of the first period on a long shot that bounced off a defenseman's skate.

His second goal, which gave the Gophers their late lead, came off a nice pass from Nate Condon.

"He saw me streaking down and slipping behind their last guy," White said. "He saw me going back door and put it right where I could slip it in."

That was the game highlight for the Gophers, the lowlights -- besides the tying goal -- were winger Taylor Matson and defenseman Aaron Ness, both juniors, suffering injuries. Their status for Saturday is uncertain.