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ST. PAUL, Minn. – St. Cloud State coach Bob Motzko said he didn’t know if opposing teams focus on not taking penalties against his side to avoid its potent power play.
That may be a little modest, because they probably do.
The Huskies power play, which has seemed automatic at points this season, scored on three of its four opportunities on Saturday afternoon. St. Cloud State downed Minnesota State 5-4 in the first semifinal of the third annual North Star College Cup.
Jimmy Murray netted the most important power play goal of the game, the game-winner, with 3:19 left in the game. After taking the lead early in the first period, Minnesota State scrapped back to tie twice on Saturday, but even with the goaltender pulled a third comeback was not in the cards.
“I was pumped,” Murray said after the game about his emotions after scoring the game-winner. “I was like, ‘Yeah, thank God.”
Both teams struck twice in the first period. Minnesota State nabbed the first goal of the game when Zach Stepan willed a puck past St. Cloud’s Charlie Lindgren from near the goal crease. Stepan’s power-play goal was his fourth of the season.
“It was a fast start for them,” Motzko said. “Their attack, their energy level, they got all the pucks deep. We turned it over umpteen times and tried to be too cute.”
St. Cloud State used a delayed-penalty goal by Patrick Russell and a goal by Mikey Eyssimont on the ensuing power play to grab the lead from the Mavericks halfway though period.
“I can’t answer that one; they never let me in on any of their team meetings, so I don’t know what they’re saying,” Motzko said in response to a question about if the power play was in other teams’ heads. “It’s well-known when your power play is going, and it’s won us some games this year. Obviously people have to take notice.”
With less than 30 seconds left in the first, Max Coatta found Dylan Margonari with a nifty pass that sprung the senior on a breakaway. Margonari beat Lindgren with a top-shelf snipe to tie the game.
“We’ve been trying to focus on becoming a better offensive team,” Minnesota State coach Mike Hastings said. “I thought we made some plays today and scored a power-play goal and created some offense coming through the neutral zone. Look at Margonari’s goal, really nice play by Max Coatta and Margonari hops in and he finishes.”
St. Cloud State scored twice quickly again in the second period. Eyssimont scored his second goal of the game, on a power play, and chased Minnesota State goaltender Jason Pawloski from the game. Jacob Benson welcomed new goaltender Cole Huggins to the game with a goal 52 seconds later.
“I thought the second period, especially the first 10 minutes, we gained it back, we started to hunker back down,” Motzko said.
The Mavericks got back to within one before the second period was over thanks to a tip-in goal from Brad McClure. Minnesota State held a 26-14 shot advantage after two periods, but trailed the Huskies 4-3.
Minnesota State tied the game halfway though the third when C.J. Franklin backhanded a rebound created by a McClure shot behind Lindgren.
“We gave one up, but I thought we had a really good third period,” Motzko said. “We were wearing them down, and you’re either going to score or you’re going to get a power play. That was the key tonight.”
The Mavericks hadn’t given up a power-play goal since late November, making the Huskies’ success on Saturday even more impressive.
“It won the game for us,” Motzko said. “Our power play has been really good and both units found ways to contribute tonight. When that hand goes up, both those units fight to go over the boards. There’s a lot of talent and a lot of confidence.”
