Games Thurs. Jan 2, 2014

[karl(east)]

Fun up-and-down game, with Benilde controlling a bit more of play, but Wayzata having a few very good chances, too.

Wayzata starting to take control. They go up 1-0 midway through the 2nd on a nice snipe from Freytag.

1-0 after 2.

Wayzata really imposed their style for a while at the start of the period, Benilde bounced back with some nice control after their PP. Very good game, but the Red Knights have yet to crack that Trojan defense.

[MNHockeyFan]

2nd Period ends with Wayzata holding a 1-0 lead. The play is pretty even overall, with not a lot of Grade A scoring chances either way.

[karl(east)]

Burnsville up 4-2 on Edina late in the 3rd.

[Traxler]

Wayzata up 2-0 in the 3rd.

[Traxler]

And now 2-1 after a nice breakaway goal by Benilde.

[pipersniper12]

GR - 4
Cloquet - 0

Half way thru the 3rd

[MNHockeyFan]

BSM put all kinds of pressure on the Trojan's in the last minute and a half, but could not get the equalizer.

Wayzata 2, BSM 1

[karl(east)]

Wayzata withstands a late barrage to win 2-1.

Meanwhile, I think Burnsville's win over Edina was the first by a 2AA team over the Hornets since they moved into the section in 07-08.

[Nuts&Bolts]

EP and Prior Lake tied at 3 going to OT. EP was up 3-0 going to the 3rd until the focus became scoring more goals instead of playing some defense and smart hockey. A lot of talent but they don't belong in the top 10. Tonka, Duluth East and STAA all handled Prior Lake with "ease" winning by 3.

[Nuts&Bolts]

PL vs EP game ends in a 3-3 tie.

[Zamman]

Edina Burnsville was a real good game. Edina scored in the first 11 seconds and then after a goal quickly again, Burnsville protests got the call overturned. But I was right behind the goal and the puck was in, mind you I am not an Edina fan. After that Edina looked food, but could not score. The second period was almost all Burnsville. In the third the point of no return was a break away by Bellows and he was stopped. After that Burnsville was in control and hung on for the win.
Should make for a good Section 2 final, unless one of the other teams puts up an upset.

[bubblehockeypro]

Edina Burnsville was a real good game. Edina scored in the first 11 seconds and then after a goal quickly again, Burnsville protests got the call overturned. But I was right behind the goal and the puck was in, mind you I am not an Edina fan. After that Edina looked food, but could not score. The second period was almost all Burnsville. In the third the point of no return was a break away by Bellows and he was stopped. After that Burnsville was in control and hung on for the win.
Should make for a good Section 2 final, unless one of the other teams puts up an upset.

Classless Edina. 18 seconds left down by two they leave Fidler out on the ice and he does his normal thing and runs from the top of the circle and launches Boeser. Should have been tossed instead the coaches allow him to get in a yelling match with a Fan as he leaves the ice. Ruined a hard hitting very competitive game. I sat above the Edina bench and saw the coaches lose it at leats 5 times during the game over calls and non calls. You think that those guys would have been there and act like they had.

[almostashappy]

After that Edina looked food, but could not score...

Well, they are the cake eaters, I guess.

In other news,

Eagan 4
East Ridge 4

Shots 55-30 Eagan.

Raptors are a scrappy and opportunistic team that could spring a quarterfinal surprise as a lower seed in 3AA.

Eagan's depth continues to be an issue. Short two forwards due to illness and injury, the patchwork third unit saw limited action after it gave up a goal in its first shift. By far Lindgren's least effective night between the pipes, but one goal was a power play centering pass that deflected off a defenseman's skate, a second was a nifty tip off a shot from the point, and a third was called good by the ref with the pipe nearest him six inches off the peg. And there was enough gas in the tank for Eagan to kill off a full two minute 5 on 3 gifted to East Ridge with 2:04 left in the third (and Muck in the box).

On the bright side, Eagan put another 4 on the board, and the goals all came from someone other than Jensen or a blue liner.

Side note - Game in Cottage Grove was moved to Park's home ice after a compressor failed during the JV game on ER's newer sheet. I wonder if calling a rink repairman in January is as expensive as calling a plumber on Christmas Day?