MINNEAPOLIS — For all but a five-minute stretch of the second period, Minnesota State got the game that it wanted versus Minnesota, but the Gophers accomplished enough offensively during that time to gain a 3-2 victory.
Minnesota (19-3-0, 14-3-0-0 WCHA) took advantage of the only two penalties of the game 25 seconds apart and converted both power plays.
“Power play was good,” Minnesota coach Brad Frost said. “That was, I think, the second five-on-three that we’ve had all year, so it was nice to cash in and then come back with the goal right after that as well. Overall, we’ve got to be better than what we were tonight, and we were fortunate to come away with one.”
The Mavericks (3-18-2, 0-16-1-0 WCHA) were able to hold Minnesota off for almost a full minute while down two skaters, but eventually the Gophers got the puck to the net and Kelly Pannek flipped it home.
“She just sees it so well,” Frost said. “She knows what she’s going to be doing with the puck even before she gets it – who is open and who is where.”
Dani Cameranesi skated across the goalmouth and slid in her national-best 10th power-play goal and 22nd overall 25 seconds later to make the score 2-0.
“That team’s hard enough to play against five-on-five, let alone five-on-three,” Mavericks coach John Harrington said.
With teams at full strength, Minnesota’s only goal came on a shot through traffic by defenseman Megan Wolfe.
“We definitely need to get out there early and start fast and get pucks to the net,” Pannek said. “I just thought we weren’t really winning those battles in front that we have to win to get those dirty goals, and that’s something that we’ll look to do tomorrow.”
All three Minnesota goal scorers added an assist.
MSU rallied in the final period. Anna Keys shot from the point hit traffic, fluttered over Amanda Leveille, and found the net midway through to get the Mavericks on the board.
When Lindsey Coleman scored her first goal of the season with just over two minutes remaining, the Mavericks were back in the game.
“I thought we were resilient,” Harrington said. “We kept battling in there.”
Brianna Quade left for an extra attacker in the final minute, but Minnesota State could not find the equalizer.
“We gave ourselves a chance at the end with a good third period,” Harrington said. “All in all, it’s disappointing, but I think we’ve grown.”
After blowing out the Mavericks the first time the teams played, the Gophers have been held to one-goal wins the last two times by MSU.
“They’re working extremely hard, they’re blocking a lot of shots, they’re playing a very disciplined and sound game, and it’s definitely to their advantage,” Frost said. “When they get goaltending the way they did and they compete the way they did, they’re going to be in a lot of hockey games.”
The teams wrap up their season series Sunday at 2:07 p.m. CDT in Minneapolis.
