MADISON, Wis. – Freshman Peter Thome did not deviate from his typical gameday routine after finding out following Friday's morning skate that he'd be making his first collegiate start later that night at seventh-ranked Wisconsin.
After North Dakota head coach Brad Berry informed Thome he'd be making the start in place of injured senior Cam Johnson, the Minneapolis native went back to the team hotel for his standard ritual of a pre-game nap and a few episodes of The Office.
His pre-game routine may have been ordinary, but his performance on Friday night was anything but ordinary.
Thome turned aside 36 saves in a spectacular performance before 9,597 at the Kohl Center, leading the Fighting Hawks to a 3-2 victory. UND improved to 6-2-1 overall with the win, while the Badgers fell to 6-4-0.
Thome's 36 saves were the most made by a debuting UND netminder this century and provided UND with much needed relief in the absence of Johnson, who had started 75 of the team's last 78 games.
“There wasn't too much time to be nervous,” said Thome, who had yet to log a single minute this season outside of a September exhibition game against Manitoba. “I already had a good night's sleep from the night before. I felt good (after) morning skate. I had a little nerves, to be honest with you. It's a big stage for your first game.”
The nerves and the big stage may have been in play early for Thome, who allowed the Badgers' first shot on goal to beat him seven minutes after the game. Matthew Freytag released a shot from the top of the right circle, a bit of a “knuckle puck,” according to Thome.
“Not the start we drew up,” said Thome with a smile. “Those happen sometimes. You never want to let in your first college shot, I just told myself to get ready for the next one.”
He did just that. After UND freshman Collin Adams and Freytag – with his second of the game – traded goals later in the period, Thome settled in and stopped all 34 shots he faced over the final two periods.
Thome had to be stout as the Badgers continually got stronger over the final 40 minutes, at times taking advantage of what Berry called poor puck management by his Fighting Hawks. But Thome held the fort, enabling senior captain Austin Poganski to tie the game on a rebound goal 1:25 into the second period.
Then midway though the third period, Nick Jones won an offensive-zone faceoff and headed straight to the net, where he deflected a Gabe Bast point shot past UW goalie Kyle Hayton for what proved to be the game-winner.
“[Thome] did a good job of settling in. He made some huge saves in the third,” said Berry. “When you get notified by the head coach that you're starting your first collegiate game at 11:30 in the morning the day of the game…I thought he did a good job of preparing for the game tonight.”
Thome made a splendid glove save off a Cameron Hughes shot from the dot with 53 seconds left and Hayton on the bench for the extra attacker. Hayden Shaw and Joel Janatuinen followed with consecutive shot blocks to help kill off the final 40 seconds.
“The boys were great blocking shots and clearing rebounds,” said Thome, whose parents were in attendance tonight. “It's great to have them here. Obviously it's a big moment, a special moment. It's nice they were here to see it in person.”
Berry was pleased with his team's strong start – UND outshot the Badgers 10-4 in the first period – but said Wisconsin was able to tilt the game in the final two periods.
“Our puck management was not very good for parts of the game,” said Berry. “They have a lot of skill on their team. They have a lot of speed and skill and you've got to make sure you take care of pucks and advance pucks against a team like that.”
One thing UND did do effectively was avoid penalty trouble. The Fighting Hawks were whistled for just one minor penalty, while the Badgers were assessed only two. Jones made them pay for one of those, with his late-game power-play winner.
“We're going to see a team with a big push tomorrow and we're going to have to make sure we're ready to go.”
UND and the Badgers conclude their series Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Notes: Hayton stopped 29 saves for the Badgers … UND blocked 16 shots compared to just four by Wisconsin … Thirty-three of Wisconsin's 69 shot attempts came in the second period … UND had a 36-32 edge in faceoffs, led by Jones (13-11) and Johnny Simonson (7-1), who returned to the lineup after missing four games with an injury … Jones has collected a goal and an assist in three of his last four games after being held without a point in his first five games … Berry said he did not have a timetable yet for Johnson's return.
