MINNEAPOLIS — Tim Hall’s rebound goal while being dragged to the ice with 36 seconds left lifted Colorado College to a 2-1 victory Friday night over Minnesota.
Hall’s goal came 41 seconds after Nick Bjugstad tied the game for the Gophers. The loss left the fourth-ranked Gophers locked in a tie with top-ranked Minnesota Duluth for first place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
“It was a defensive battle almost the entire game,” Hall said. “Both of us like to run and gun. It was a testament to the goalies tonight.”
Colorado College goalie Josh Thorimbert and Minnesota’s Kent Patterson dominated in a game that featured the second- and third-best scoring teams in the nation. Thorimbert made 38 saves for the Tigers (14-8-1, 11-6-0), while Patterson made 25 stops for the Gophers (16-9-1, 12-5-0).
Nick Dineen scored at 4:04 of the second period to give Colorado College the lead it took into the final minutes.
Bjugstad’s 20th goal tied the game 1-1 with 1:17 left in the third period. Skating with an extra attacker, the Gophers were all around the net when the Tigers tried to clear the puck. But it went straight to Bjugstad in front of the net, and he slapped it past Thorimbert.
Seconds later, Hall scored his second goal of the season for the Tigers.
“It’s like losing in overtime,” Minnesota coach Don Lucia said. “We made a couple of mistakes, and they ended up in our net.”
Air Force 3, Army 3 (OT)
WEST POINT, N.Y. — Paul Weisgarber gave the Falcons (10-7-5, 8-4-4 Atlantic Hockey Association) their first lead of the game four minutes into the third, but Mark Dube’s short-handed goal with just under five minutes left helped the Black Knights (2-13-7, 1-11-5) salvage a tie.
Denver Post wire services
