Michigan Tech senior captain Brett Olson scored 33 seconds into overtime to give the Huskies a 3-2 victory on the road against No. 2 Minnesota. It was Olson’s second game-winner in overtime this season.
“Our best win,” said Michigan Tech coach Mel Pearson. “Our best team win this year no question. By far, this is our best win for the team. I am really proud and happy for them,”
The goal extended Olson’s scoring streak to six games.
“I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and I turned it into a good old foot race,” said Olson.
Olson picked up the puck at the blue line and out-battled Minnesota defenseman Seth Helgeson for real estate skating in on Kent Patterson.
“It went five-hole,” said Olson. “I just got a quick little whack on it, and I was fortunate it went in.”
“It’s a great goal by Brett Olson, a senior who has had some struggles,” continued Pearson.
The loss for Minnesota continued the Gophers’ Friday night woes, a stretch in which Minnesota is 1-4 in Friday games, as opposed to 12-1-1 in all other games. The win also ended Minnesota’s seven-game winning streak over the Huskies.
Michigan Tech entered the third period on a power play and went up 2-1 at 1:07 on a shot from the point that trickled through Patterson by Steven Seigo.
Helgeson tied the score 2-2 at 6:57 on a bomb from the blue line off a faceoff win.
Midway through the third, the teams exchanged breakaways while on a four on-four. Both goaltenders made critical saves that kept the game tied.
“Josh Robinson played extremely well, ” said Pearson. “I thought he made some big saves. Obviously, there was a breakaway there late in the third which could have turned the game around. He made a great save on that. I challenged him this morning. I really had not challenged him all year. This morning, I gave him a little shot, a little challenge, and he was up to the task.”
“I thought Robinson had a real good game tonight,” said Gophers coach Don Lucia. “I thought both goalies did. Three goals tonight went off people.”
The first period was played to a 1-1 tie, the only two goals coming off backchecking forwards’ skates.
Minnesota opened the scoring when Jake Hansen came off the left side. He fed the puck to the weak side defenseman Mark Alt. Alt fired a wrister toward the net. The puck was headed wide when it caught Huskies forward Patrick McCadden’s trailing skate and beat Robinson at 10:22.
Blake Pietila made it 1-1 at 16:35 on a bank shot off Minnesota forward Travis Boyd. Pietila picked up the puck behind Minnesota and threw it out front. The puck went right off Boyd past Patterson.
The same two teams faceoff Saturday night at 8:05 p.m.
