Gophers are best out of three, are heading to St.Paul

What a weekend of great Gopher hockey. Both the Mavericks and the Gophers played outstanding and I do tip my hat to both teams. It was a fun weekend to watch. With three overtime games I can't imagine how tired these two teams are. Friday nights game the Gophers looked just a tad off. Jay Barriball stood out to me the most as being off but he was out with an injury so I just assumed he was hurting. Saturday night went into overtime also, with Mike Carman getting the dinger. It was an awesome play by Carman very very impressed. He's turned it on in this last part of the season. Sunday nights game went into double overtime. I was amazed that either team had anything left in them! They didn't even look gased. Mankato had most of the chances in overtime if you ask me. The Gophers controlled the play through most of the game but the Mavericks had the momentum going into the first overtime but the Gopher hung on. With three minutes and 1 second left in overtime Tony Lucia notched the game winner from Evan Kaufmann and Ryan Flynn. Flynn started the play by beating the defenseman to the puck and then protecting the puck. Flynn passed to Kaufmann who one timed it. Mike Zacharias made the first save, but Lucia was camped out infront of the net and wacked at his pads and the puck went in. The celebration was great to watch. Our seniors deserve another game. Speaking of seniors Tom Pohl was injured in Sunday nights game and was taken to St. Mary's Hospital where he had emergency surgery to stop bleeding by the brain. Recent reports have said that Pohl is concious and talking and he was also moved out of ICU on Tuesday. Another note on the celebration, my heart went out to Zacharias he and Alex Kangas played great all weekend and I was impressed. We definetly need to watch out for him next year as he is only a Junior this year. Kangas was outstanding. He stood on his head just like he has all year. I have no doubts about Alex and his age. He deserves to be the number one goalie because the Gophers wouldn't be going to the Final Five if it wasn't for him. Perhaps Tony Lucia said it best: Alex saved our butts

PLAYERS OF THE WEEKEEND:
Mike Zacharias: Outstanding all nights.
Alex Kangas: Just amazing all aroung and has been all season.
Mick Berge: He was the mavs best player all weekend. Very impressed by him
Tony Lucia: He played do hard and continued to play hard all weekend. He deserved that goal.
Mike Carman: He's stepped up this last part of the season and his goal on saturday was a highlight reel goal.
Justin Bostrom: I always see him hustling and it was great to see him score this weekend. I think Don Lucia also awarded him by giving him more ice time on Sunday

Friday @ Mankato

First Period Scoring
NONE

First Period Penalties
MSU Brain Kilburg Interference
Blake Friesen Tripping
Nick Canzanello Checking from behind
Trevor Bruess Tripping

Second Period Scoring
NONE

Second Period Penalties
MINN Justin Bostrom Interference

Third Period Scoring
NONE

Third Period Penlties
MINN DAvid Fischer Hooking

OVERTIME
Scoring
Trevor Bruess Jon Kalinski

Penalties
MSU TEAM Too Many On Ice

SAVES
Alex Kangas 44 Saves
MIKE Zacharias 34 saves

STARS
1. Trevor Bruess
2. Jon Kalinski
3. Mike Zacharias

Saturday @ Mankato

First Period Scoring
Justin Bostrom Tom Pohl/Kevin Wehrs

First Period Penalties
MINN Blake Wheeler Tripping
Mike Carman Tripping
Tony Lcuia Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Ryan Flynn Roughing
MSU Geoff Irwin Slashing
Trevor Bruess Roughing
Joel Harrison Slashing

Second Period Scoring
NONE

Second Period Penalties
MSU Ben Youds 10 Minute Msiconduct
Mick Berge Hooking

MINN Ben Gordon Delay of game

Third Period Scoring
Andrew Sackerson Geoff Irwin/Joel Harrison

Third Period Penalties
MSU Blake Friesen Hooking
MINN Patrick White Tripping

OVERTIME
Scoring
Mike Carman Derek PEltier

Penalties
NONE

SAVES
Alex Kangas 27 Saves
Mike Zacharias 35 Saves

Three Stars
1. Mike Carman
2. Andrew Sacherson
3. Mike Zacharias

Sunday @ Mankato
First Period Scoring
Mick Berge Kurt Davis/Geoff Irwin
Jay Barriball Blake Wheeler/Ben Gordon

First Period Penalties
MINN Patrick White Interference
Evan Kaufmann Slashing
Stu Bickel Holding
Stu Bickel Hooking

MSU Trevor Bruess Holding
Ben Youds Roughing
Trevor Bruess Tripping

Second Period Penalties
Patrick White Mike Howe/Tony Lucia

Second Period Penalties
MSU Jason Wiley 5 Contact to the Head (DQ)
Ben Youds Interference
Channing Boe Delay of Game

MINN Mike Carman
TEAM Too Many On Ice

Third Period Scoring
Kael Mouillierat Trevor Bruess/Ben Youds

Third Period Penalties
MSU Channing Boe Delay of Game

OVERTIME SCORING
Tony Lucia Evan Kaufmann/Ryan Flynn

Penalties
MINN Tony Lucia Checking from Behind

SAVES
Alex Kangas 44 Saves (115 total)
Mike Zacharias 47 Saves (116 total)

Three Stars
1. Tony Lucia
2. Mike Zacharias
3.Kael Mouillierat