GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Welcome to another live game blog on FightingSioux.com. We'll be providing you with inside access from the press box of the University of North Dakota men's hockey game against Minnesota on Jan. 9, 2009.
7:00 - The teams take the ice as the crowd is slowly filling in. The student section and upper level end zones look packed already. Lots of white, a few jackets and a few other colors.
7:02 - A few notes about UND's line-up. Ryan Duncan is centering a line with Jason Gregoire and Brett Hextall, who is the newest addition to the top line. Although Duncan has played center in three years, head coach Dave Hakstol said Duncan played well last week against Bemidji State in the spot. Pairing Hextall has brought an extra level of excitement this week in practice, he said.
Evan Trupp, Chris VandeVelde and Matt Frattin are paired together. The Matt Watkins, Darcy Zajac and Ryan Martens lines remains intact. Hakstol said this was UND's hottest line before Christmas but has cooled off lately, but the group had a great week of practice. Andrew Kozek, Brad Malone and David Toews round out the forwards.
Brad Miller, who was back at forward last week, is back at defense paired with the always stable Zach Jones. Derrick LaPoint and Jake Marto are paired together, and Joe Finley and Chay Genoway. Hakstol said Finley is continuing to improve after spending two months away from the team. He said Finley played one bad period last weekend, but showed his maturity and bounced back in the second and third last Saturday.
7:25 - The pregame video starts. It has a UND-Minnesota theme, which gets they crowd even more hyped, amid a few other cheers from the student section.
7:37 - The pregame clock has wound down, the students are excited, there may been a gopher thown on the ice, and the large crowd is largely dressed in white. Maybe a few pearls, bones and ivory thrown in the mix.
7:43 - Matt Watkins has two chances but fires wide on each. This crowd is very excited.
7:50 - The Sioux are outplaying the Gopher in the first 8 minutes, but seem a little too excited. UND has had four decent scoring chances, but can't find the net.
7:57 - The Sioux continue the pressure and Gopher goaltender Alex Kangas continues to keep the score 0-0. UND is outshooting Minnesota 12-1.
8:10 - First period ends tied at 0-0. Sioux outshoot the Gophers 18-2. Can UND keep up the tempo and break through the Kangas wall? Can Minnesota match UND's intensity?
8:26 - First period underway. Just a I was thinking the crowd needed to get back into it, Evan Trupp got a turnover at center ince, moved in on Kangas, made a nice fake with his wrists and buried the puck for a shorthanded goal.
8:28 - Matt Frattin with a breakaway, beat Kangas but hit the pipe. Great opportunities for UND, but they need to score more.
8:33 - Jason Gregoire scores and puts UND up 2-0. The puck rebounded to Gregoire, who put the puck high before Kangas could get into position.
8:36 - Gophers get a boost and within 2-1. Ryan Stoa scores the goal. Good vision by the Gophers taking advantage UND's out-of-position defense.
8:42 - Ryan Duncan scores. UND leads 3-1. Duncan deflected a rebound that hit Kangas's mask and dropped in front of him.
9:07 - Sioux lead 4-1 after two periods. Great period for UND. Sorry for the long delay, I was in the catwalk above the ice with a photographer.
9:24 - Ryan Stoa scores his second and brings Minnesota within 4-2. So far, Minnesota has controlled the first five minutes of the third.
9:31 - Great pass by Chris VandeVelde. Great goal by Andrew Kozek. Sioux lead 5-2. Kozek's fourth of the year and first after getting shut out for the last six games.
9:33 - Ryan Martens scores. Sioux lead 6-2. That's now a goal from every line. Joe Finley gets an assist, his first point of the year.
9:38 - Minnesota scores and is back within 6-3.
10:00 - Game final. UND wins its 100th game at REA with a 6-3 victory over Minnesota.
