What appeared to be one of Detroit Lakes' biggest goals of the year, turned out to be an important factor in a disappointing 6-5 overtime loss against state-ranked Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl Friday.
Despite the frustrating loss to the Blue Devils, the Lakers rebounded with a 6-1 victory over Eveleth-Gilbert Saturday, to preserve a split for their northern trip over the weekend.
The non-goal in question Friday, though, was a bitter pill to swallow for the Lakers.
After being awarded a four-minute power play, the Blue Devils were able to sneak a shorthanded goal past goalie Michael Brunner to tie the game 3-3.
But DL responded with an apparent goal on a pass by junior forward Alex Mason to senior Nate Baker, who one-timed his shot.
ADVERTISEMENT
The puck looked to have gone in and deflected quickly back into play, as the light signifying a goal went off.
While the Lakers were in mid-celebration and thinking they just broke the 3-3 tie, the referee called the goal off, continued play and the Blue Devils promptly went on a breakaway opportunity and scored their second shorthanded goal of the second period.
Instead of the Lakers, it was the home team which held a 4-3 lead with three seconds left in the second period.
"That was a two-goal swing and that would haunt us later," said DL head coach Chris Denardo.
But the Lakers persevered into the third period, as Baker's first goal of the game came on a power play, with assists by Mason and Andy Schupp just 36 seconds into play.
The Blue Devils answered midway through the third, with Tom Norlander scoring for the 5-4 advantage.
Forward Ryan Berg tied the game up with four minutes remaining on assists by Derick Brehm and Kyle Hermann to force overtime.
After each team played evenly in the overtime, it was Virginia that finally broke through, on a Troy Nichols tally 6:45 into the extra period.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We were right there and I thought we outplayed them on their home ice for much of the game," Denardo said. "We measured up well against a team which made the state tournament the last two years and will probably go again this year."
The Blue Devils notched three goals in the second period, which included two power play scores and a shorthanded one by Norlander, Garrett Hendrickson and Wes Judnick in turn.
They outshot DL by a 13-6 margin, and finished by outshooting the Lakers 38-29 overall.
The Lakers had a scoring barrage in the first period on goals by Hermann, Schupp and defenseman Ethan Brekke. Assists were gathered by Ryan Lindquist, Austin Rusness and Kirby Inderrieden.
Brunner had 32 saves in the game, while Virginia's Andy Milbridge finished with 24 for the win.
But the Lakers responded to Friday night's adversity with an impressive 6-1 win over Eveleth-Gilbert Saturday.
After putting 11 shots on the Golden Bears' goalie Logan Koskela in a scoreless first period, DL finally figured out the goaltender, with a two-goal second and a four-goal third.
"It took us a while to figure out their goalie and the guys had some real aggressive play on net and some good shots in the third period," Denardo said. "They really poured it on in that final period."
ADVERTISEMENT
After trailing 1-0 heading into the first intermission, senior Alex DeConcini tied the game 9:46 into the second on assists by Schupp and Hermann.
With the facet open, DL kept the pressure on, as Mason notched a goal on assists by Frantisek Jung and Baker for DL's first lead of the game.
The third period saw goals by Rusness, Berg, and two by Baker to cap the 6-1 win. Assists were handed out to Inderrieden, Schupp, Lindquist, DeConcini, Brekke and Mason.
Senior goalie Blake Murphy finished with 21 saves, while Koskela had 33.
"I thought this past weekend's play put us back on track," Denardo said. "We got out of it what I was hoping we would."
The Lakers (9-6-0, 4-0-0 in the Mid-State Conference) will look to build on their conference lead when they travel to Pequot Lakes (7-7-1, 1-2-1) Thursday for a 7 p.m. start.
Laker results
Detroit Lakes at Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl, Friday, Jan. 14.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lakers 3 0 2 0 - 5
Blue Devils 1 3 1 1 - 6
1st Period -- Scoring: DL - Herrmann (Lindquist) 8:28. DL - Schupp (Rusness, Inderrieden) 10:10. VRGNIA - Norlander (Hendrickson, Eddy) 10:44. DL - Brekke 12:37. Penalties: Herrmann, DL (Tripping, Minor, 2 min) 3:48. DeConcini, DL (Tripping, Minor, 2 min) 3:49.
2nd Period -- Scoring: VRGNIA - Hendrickson (Power Play) (Eddy, Judnick) 3:51. VRGNIA - Judnick (Short Handed) (Eddy, Hendrickson) 15:40. VRGNIA - Norlander (Short Handed) (Hendrickson) 16:57. Penalties: Nichols, VRGNIA (Roughing, Double Minor, 4 min) 1:29. DeConcini, DL (Holding, Minor, 2 min) 8:05. Brekke, DL (Hooking, Minor, 2 min) 14:17.
3rd Period -- Scoring: DL - Baker (Power Play) (Mason, Schupp) 0:36. DL - Berg (Brehm, Herrmann) 13:03. VRGNIA - Norlander (Freidlieb, Judnick) 13:49. Penalties: None
OT Period -- Scoring: VRGNIA - Nichols (Judnick) 6:45. Penalties: None.
Shots on goal -- DL: 11 6 10 2 - 29...V/MIB: 11 13 9 5 - 38.
Saves -- DL (Michael Brunner) 32...V/MIB (Andy Millbridge) 24.
ADVERTISEMENT
Detroit Lakes at Eveleth-Gilbert, Saturday, Jan. 15.
Lakers 0 2 4 - 6
Golden Bears 1 0 0 - 6
1st Period -- Scoring: EVLETH - Niemi (Jackson, Kaldahl) 0:10. Penalties: Jung, DL (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 7:37. Niemi, EVLETH (Slashing, Minor, 2 min) 7:37.
2nd Period -- Scoring: DL - DeConcini (Schupp, Herrmann) 9:46. DL - Mason (Jung, Baker) 12:27. Penalties: Kivela, EVLETH (Hooking, Minor, 2 min) 0:25. Jackson, EVLETH (Head Contact, Minor, 2 min) 12:37.
3rd Period -- Scoring: DL - Rusness (Inderrieden, Schupp) 0:18. DL - Berg (Lindquist) 11:45. DL - Baker (DeConcini, Brekke) 11:58. DL - Baker (Mason) 12:04. Penalties: Jackson, EVLETH (Tripping, Minor, 2 min) 0:55. Johnson, EVLETH (Tripping, Minor, 2 min) 10:24. Schupp, DL (Hooking, Minor, 2 min) 11:15. Doran, EVLETH (Head Contact, Minor, 2 min) 16:12. Lindquist, DL (Slashing, Minor, 2 min) 16:21.
Shots on goal -- DL: 11 16 12 - 39...EG: 9 6 7 - 22.
Saves -- DL (Blake Murphy) 21...EG (Logan Koskela) 33.
