Bemidji State sophomore Andrew Murray scored two power-play goals in a span of just 3:54 in the second period to help lift the Beavers to a 2-2 draw with the Sacred Heart Pioneers at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse Saturday night.
Murray recorded his third career game with two or more power-play goals. He helped the Beavers take advantage of a five-minute major and game misconduct penalties assessed to Sacred Heart’s Michael Forsland for a hit on Jesse Balsimo by scoring at the 14:08 and 18:02 marks of the second period. Both goals evened the score, his first at 1-1 and his second at 2-2.
“Andrew was fighting a bit the last few weeks,” Bemidji head coach Tom Serratore said. “I was glad to see him score a couple of power play goals. It’s nice to see him rewarded for his effort out there.”
Sacred Heart scored first on Chuck Metcalfe’s unassisted goal, his first of the season, at the 2:45 mark of the second period. He took a loose puck off a faceoff in the Bemidji zone and fired it past goaltender Dannie Morgan.
Murray got the action going in the second period with his first goal before Garrett Larson put Sacred Heart back on top, 2-1, with an unassisted power-play score at 15:25.
For the second consecutive night, both goalies turned in strong efforts. Bemidji’s Morgan, making his first start since Jan. 25, 2001 and just his third appearance in BSU’s last 19 games, saved 17 of 19 shots. Kevin LaPointe went the distance for the Pioneers, saving 30 of 32 shots faced.
In the two-game weekend series, the goaltenders combined to save 122 of 128 combined shots faced (.953) and posted a goals-against average of just 1.38.
“Both teams played hard,” Serratore said. “They had a couple of opportunities to win, but we had great defense. We improved a lot tonight. We are a better team than we were last night.”
The draw leaves Bemidji at 0-0-2 on the season, marking the first time in its 47-year hockey history the Beavers have opened a season with two ties. Sacred Heart is also 0-0-2.
