Huskies lose OT thriller in title game at North Star Cup

Saturday, January 28

St. Paul, Minn.

7:00 p.m.

St. Cloud State

12-13-1, 6-9-1-0

University of Minnesota Duluth

17-5-4, 11-4-1-1

OT 1

Minnesota Duluth

St. Cloud State

Ryan Papa

Photo by: Maddie MacFarlane

1/28/2017 10:23:00 PM | Men's Hockey

Box Score

The St. Cloud State University men's hockey team (12-13-1, 6-9-1 NCHC) took #1/2 Minnesota Duluth (17-5-4, 11-4-1 NCHC) into overtime before losing a well played 2-1 decision in the championship game of the North Star Cup on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul, Minn.

UMD's Kyle Osterberg posted the game winner at 6:00 of the extra session before 11,098 fans at the Xcel Energy Center. His goal ended the game that started with a goal by SCSU's Will Borgen at 18:17 of the first period. This was Borgen's second goal of the season and it was assisted by Robby Jackson and Jon Lizotte.

The game settled into a classic NCHC defensive battle with both squads going scoreless until Alex Iaffalo broke the shutout at :42 of the third period. The defensive struggle continue until the end of regulation as SCSU held a 29-26 lead in shots going into the extra period. In the OT, UMD led the stat sheet by outshooting the Huskies 8-3.

In the game, UMD outshot the Huskies 34-32. SCSU was 0-of-1 on the power play but the Huskies were solid on the penalty kill once again with a 2-of-2 effort on the PK. Special teams were limited in the game as UMD was whistled for one penalty and the Huskies only had two penalties in the game.

In the nets, Jeff Smith made 32 saves in the game for the Huskies. He is now 6-7-0 this season but his season stats improved to a 2.69 GAA and a .908 save rate.

The Huskies will continue their 2016-17 season on Feb. 3-4 with a pair of games at North Dakota. Fans can follow all the action from Grand Forks, N.D. on REV 96.7 FM (www.rev967.com)