Following a 26-day break, a little rusty play from No. 1 Minnesota might have been expected against a Bemidji State team that already resumed play last week.
By limiting the Gophers (16-1-2, WCHA 13-0-2) to just one power play and getting 39 saves on 41 shots on goalie Jill Luebke, the Beavers (5-15-1, 1-14-0) kept the score to a respectable 2-0 margin in front of 1,449 at Ridder Arena.
Both goals by the Gophers came in the first period. After coming up empty on three point blank chances and several flurries, Minnesota finally found the net with a great shot on the doorstep from Natalie Darwitz at 7:08 of the first period. At 11:14, Andrea Nichols made it 2-0 after she found herself alone on the right side of the crease and batted the puck home.
Luebke’s goaltending took over in the second period. She made 14 saves.
“We always had people in the way – we didn’t just let them walk in and get a good look,” said Bemidji coach Bruce Olson. “They had to get through five players to get to the net and Jill played great tonight.”
“Bemidji’s a hard working team – the goaltending was phenomenal,” said Minnesota coach Laura Halldorson. “She shut the door on shots we normal score on. Their team was feeding off the momentum from the goaltending.”
Luebke continued to keep Minnesota’s stars off the scoreboard in the third. She made several key saves herself and also received some help from the pipes.
“I don’t think there is anything you can do to prepare for the speed of this team,” Olson said. “Our approach was let’s keep doing what we have had our success with. We knew we would need great goaltending and to stick with our forechecking and the thing that has become our trade mark – we don’t quit.”
Getting consistent play and momentum, Bemidji skated hard and kept in the faces of Minnesota players. The Beavers had four chances on the night in the man advantage but struggled to get shots off. Brenda Reinen made 19 saves for the shutout in her fifth start this season.
“I just keep playing for the team,” Reinen said. “They’re down on the other end trying to get the next goal and I am on my end keeping the goals out.”
Reinen and Luebke were familiar with each other from playing on boys teams in high school.
Said Luebke: “Playing guys hockey in high school, I was used to the speed of Minnesota. It was good to get out there and see the speed of this game tonight.”
Bruce Olson credits his team’s conditioning for the competitive play.
“They don’t panic and cycle the puck very well,” Olson said. “I think if we can survive the energy of the first period tomorrow we’ll have another great game.”
The Gophers will look to continue to shake the rust off after a much-needed break.
“With the long break we sent everybody home, giving them time off and optional ice,” Halldorson said. “It’s a six-month season I think it’s significant to have breaks, mentally and physically.”
Minnesota’s all-time record improved to 21-0-3 against Bemidji. The teams face off again Saturday afternoon at Ridder.
