It wasn’t a win, but for Boston University it sure felt like one.<\/p>\n
The Terriers rallied from a two-goal deficit, surviving a major penalty late in the second period and a Minnesota power play at the end of overtime to gain a 5-5 tie at Mariucci Arena.<\/p>\n
BU goaltender Sean Fields’ numbers weren’t spectacular — 35 saves on 40 Gopher shots — but the senior netminder stopped key shots at critical times, including two big saves during Minnesota’s five-minute power play and a stop on what seemed like a sure goal for Danny Irmen late in OT.<\/p>\n
“[Fields] played very, very well,” said Terrier head coach Jack Parker. “He made a couple of huge saves on the five-on-three.”<\/p>\n
Minnesota, meanwhile, held leads of 3-1, 4-3 and 5-4 before settling for the draw.<\/p>\n
“I thought that probably BU deserved better than what they had tonight,” said Minnesota head coach Don Lucia. “We didn’t play with the rhythm we need.”<\/p>\n
Jon Waibel scored twice for Minnesota, the first on a breakaway early on, and the second a redirection of Jake Taylor’s slapshot as the five-minute major expired early in the third period.<\/p>\n
“Jonny Waibel was clearly our best player, and then I’d have to scratch my head to think of a guy who played up to his abilities,” said Lucia.<\/p>\n
Waibel took a pass from Chris Harrington, split the defense through center ice, and beat Fields for a 1-0 lead at 1:50 of the first.<\/p>\n
But Brad Zancanaro returned the favor, getting a lead pass up the right side and beating the defense around the corner, forcing Harrington to trip him to prevent the one-on-one.<\/p>\n
On the ensuing power play, Kevin Schaeffer scored at 8:36 from the edge of the right circle to knot the score at 1.<\/p>\n
A sequence of four-on-four odd-man rushes followed, then play began getting rough in what turned out to be a physical contest. At 16:59, Gino Guyer hit a streaking Harrington from behind the net, and Harrington went five-hole on a helpless Fields to make it 2-1 Minnesota.<\/p>\n
“This is a pretty big rivalry, even though we don’t see each other that much,” said Parker. “I was surprised by the physicality, because it’s hard to be physical in an [Olympic-sized] rink.”<\/p>\n
At 19:13 Troy Riddle cleaned up a rebound in front of Fields, firing into the half-open net for a 3-1 lead, and the Gophers were in control.<\/p>\n
… for about three minutes of play. BU rallied immediately in the second, getting goals from Mark Mullen — a redirection of Ryan Whitney’s slapshot — and Brian McConnell, who fired home a wild carom at the 3:37 mark to tie the game at 3.<\/p>\n
“We were ahead 3-1, but the game was anybody’s game,” said Waibel. “They proved that in the second period.”<\/p>\n
Tyler Hirsch gave Minnesota the lead back at 9:45, bouncing the puck off Fields after a wraparound behind the net, but the Terriers rallied again with Mullen’s second goal of the game, turning the corner after taking a pass from Matt Radoslovich and scoring past Kellen Briggs (25 saves) at 13:04.<\/p>\n
Then BU’s Jekabs Redlihs — playing his first game of the season after a broken collarbone — gave the Gophers a five-minute power play after tripping Grant Potulny from behind, sending Potulny face-first into the boards.<\/p>\n
“[Potulny] turned his back at the last minute, and my guys have been instructed to hold up when that happens,” said Parker. “He didn’t do that.”<\/p>\n
The Minnesota captain skated off the ice after a couple of minutes, and finished the game. He is expected to be in the lineup Saturday.<\/p>\n
After five minutes of haphazard passing, Minnesota regained the lead on Waibel’s redirection of Taylor’s shot at 4:31 of the third. But the Terriers produced another tie on John Laliberte’s odd goal — a shot that bounced off Hirsch and into the net at 15:51.<\/p>\n
BU had the better chances for the rest of regulation, and in overtime until referee Don Adam was forced to flag Schaeffer for hauling down Guyer behind the Terrier net at 3:05 of OT.<\/p>\n
But the Terrier penalty kill held once more — thanks to Fields’ sliding stop of Irmen — and the tie was the result.<\/p>\n
“I saw him come down out of the corner of my eye,” said Fields. “I tried to get across the crease … It hit my toe, rattled around and stopped.”<\/p>\n
That was the Gophers’ last shot at the win, as the game ended 5-5. The Terriers, understandably, had a more positive view of the result than did the Gophers.<\/p>\n
“I thought it was a well-played game,” said Parker. “I thought it was a well-officiated game.”<\/p>\n
“Mentally, I don’t think we were very sharp,” said Lucia, adding, “Bottom line is, you can’t give up five goals.”<\/p>\n
Minnesota (9-8-2) will host Boston University (5-5-5) once again Saturday.<\/p>\n
“Today was a real eye-opener for us,” said Waibel. “I think we’ll bring it tomorrow.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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