March 17, 2005
Seems Like Old Times
North Dakota tops Wisconsin in WCHA play-in game

By Jess Myers

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Winter storm warnings in the air in St. Paul made Thursday's WCHA play-in game feel more like the dead of winter than a sunny St. Patrick's Day. For North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol, whose team survived and advanced to Friday's semifinals via a 3-2 win over Wisconsin, it was a fun flashback to a winter weekend not so long ago.

"This game was just a continuation of the series we had with Wisconsin a few weeks ago," said Hakstol, referring to his team's win a tie with the Badgers on Feb. 26-27. "It was physical, the pace was good and it was tooth and nail until the last second."

North Dakota 3,
Wisconsin 2
Team Goal Str
Time Assists

First Period

1-ND Brady Murray (8) EV
1:22 T. Zajac, D. Stafford
2-ND James Massen (2) EV
14:08 B. Canady, E. Fabian
1-UW Robbie Earl (20) EV
15:14 J. Pavelski, R. Carlson
Second Period
No scoring
Third Period
3-ND Colby Genoway (11) PP
9:44 R. Spirko, N. Fuher
2-UW Adam Burish (12) SH
10:43 unassisted
Goaltending
ND: Jordan Parise, 60:00, 33 saves, 3 GA
UW: Bernd Brückler, 58:21, 25 saves, 3 GA
Penalties: ND 6/12; UW 6/12
Power Plays: ND 1-5; UW 0-5
Attendance: 15,583

While North Dakota helped its NCAA cause with the win, the Badgers are now squarely on the bubble after the loss put them at 3-7-3 in their last 13 games. Despite goals by Robbie Earl and Adam Burish, the Badgers had two first period turnovers that led to Sioux goals, and trailed throughout despite putting 35 shots on Sioux goalie Jordan Parise.

"As the game went on, we had moments where we created opportunities, but we weren't as sharp, and Mr. Parise made some big saves," said Badgers coach Mike Eaves, who earlier in the day had learned that his son, Boston College junior forward Patrick, was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. "The difference in the game was a puck going in off a shin pad, and we didn't get that break. That's what happens at this time of year."

The shin pad in question belonged to Badgers defenseman Davis Drewiske.
A third period power play shot by Sioux forward Colby Genoway hit Drewiske's leg and sailed past Wisconsin goalie Bernd Brückler's blocker for the eventual game-winner.

Brückler finished with 25 saves in what may have been the final game of his collegiate career, while Parise finished with 33 saves – the second-highest single-game total of his career.

While Wisconsin awaits the results of the other tournaments and pulls for the favorites to avoid upsets, North Dakota will face top-seeded Denver on Friday afternoon in the Final Five semifinals.

An announced crowd of 15,583 – many of them clad in green both for the Sioux and for St. Patrick's Day in the Irish hotbed of St. Paul – saw the game.

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