March 15, 2008
Oshie Leads in Return
by Virg Foss/Staff Writer
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Michigan Tech hockey coach looked up at the scoreboard over Ralph Engelstad Arena after one period tonight and didn't like what he saw, for several reasons.
Not only did his Huskies trail 1-0 in the opening game of the Best-of-3 WCHA playoffs, but the scoreboard showed his Huskies being outshot 14-0.
"To be honest with you, I thought the person doing the shot chart was on crack tonight," Tech coach Jamie Russell said. "It was definitely out to lunch. You can print that, too."
It really didn't matter much as a strong performance by the Sioux led to a 4-0 victory and stretched their school-record and nation-best unbeaten streak to 18 games (15-0-3).
A power-play goal by last year's Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Duncan at 5:25 of the first period was all the offense the Sioux would need. Senior goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux posted a 14-save shutout for his sixth blanking of the season.
All three players on UND's top line of Duncan, junior center T.J. Oshie and junior left wing Andrew Kozek scored a goal. Oshie, a game-time decision whether he would play after he was hurt in last Saturday in a 2-2 tie with St. Cloud State, scored his 15th of the season at 8:21 of the second period to make it 2-0.
The Huskies, the second-lowest scoring team in the country, didn't get their first official shot on net until 3:53 into the second period, a shot credited to Jimmy Kerr. Midway through the game, the Sioux owned a 20-1 shot advantage on their way to a final edge of 31-14. Tech's 14 shots is just one more than the lowest allowed by the Sioux this season when they held Bemidji State to 13 shots in a 1-0 win on Feb. 24 in Grand Forks.
The Sioux welcomed the return of Oshie and defenseman Chay Genoway back in the lineup. Genoway, who had missed the last two games with a wrist injury, contributed two assists. Oshie, who played just two shifts last Saturday against St. Cloud State, had a goal and an assist.
"I thought he (Oshie) looked fine," UND coach Dave Hakstol said. "Neither (Genoway and Oshie) had to be spectacular, but both I thought were very solid."
Duncan's early power-play goal set the tone. "It was a real important goal, to get one early on the power play," Hakstol said.
The Sioux dressed an extra player for warmups until the status of Oshie to play could be determined.
"It was tough not know if I was going to play or not," Oshie said. "I knew I couldn't be too selfish, but I felt real good out there. Coach Hakstol left it up to me. I felt great, maybe 95 to 100 percent. Obviously I wasn't hitting as much."
But he was hitting the scoreboard (twice) with his goal and assist, and that mattered more.
He showed great patience after taking Duncan's pass on the far side of the net to find an opening on Teslak. "I was actually going to go all the way the crease, but I saw a little hole on the 5-hole there. I decided to make the easy play," Oshie said.
Come on Tech,
Let's force a game on Sunday.
Mar 15 2008, 9:32 am by JB, Houghton
Oshie for Hobby!!!!!!! Best player in the nation hands down.
Mar 15 2008, 11:34 am by Chad, GF
I was there, and Coach Russel is the one who is on crack if he thinks something was wrong with the shot clock. Tech looked like crap in the first period (but they did come out stronger in the second and third). To make a comment like that is irresponsible of him, not to mention childish.
Mar 15 2008, 12:48 pm by Chris Haake, Grand Forks ND
Suspend him for comments like that. A finger on the air compared to him calling the official scorer a druggie in a public forum. Come on. 5 game suspenseion
Mar 15 2008, 4:52 pm by Phil Minneapolis
Coach Russell said"To be honest with you I THOUGHT the person doing the shot chart was on crack." He said "I thought" and that is quite different than stating that a person is on crack. LET IT GO PEOPLE
Mar 16 2008, 11:03 am by ST BC
Isn't part of the Hobey thing about character? Oshie showed real charater with his diving and flopping around the ice to try and draw penalties. Oshie for a part in a play maybe!!!!!!
Mar 16 2008, 11:08 am by JN Ab
Oh Ya..and peeing in an elevator....shows even more character. Won't even be a part in a good play. If these acts are not seriously considered in regard to the Hobey Baker Award then this award no longer holds the prestige it is known for...and Lammy going after a fan that too is not HB material.
Mar 16 2008, 11:31 am by JN Ab
jn why not just admit it OSHIE IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NATION regardless of his acting skills, which by the way we pretty convincing
Mar 16 2008, 6:46 pm by sarge, north st paul
JN Ab for HOBEY!!!
Mar 16 2008, 9:26 pm by
ND is a joke of a team when it comes to "character". Just look at their game at Minnesota. They were a total embarassment, and I'm from ND. I think it all start at the top. There is no example from the coaches. It is a sad season for ND hockey no matter what they end up doing this season. Grow up guys.
Mar 17 2008, 5:00 am by steve
UND a JOKE steve you cant be serious? they have a good team this year not great but good hard working hard hitting team
Mar 17 2008, 9:36 am by SARGE, MN
With a couple of exceptions, it seems most of the posters here are about 13 years old. Can I get you guys your teddy bear and blankie?
Mar 17 2008, 4:13 pm by Chris Haake, Grand Forks ND
ST BC -- if you really believe what you wrote, you lack the ability to reason.
Mar 17 2008, 4:36 pm by Chris Haake, Grand Forks ND
If you think that Oshie should get up for the hobey or player of the year then you guys need to think a little bit harder. Being arrested twice in one year is not Hobey material and for player of the year. Ryan Lasch from SCSU deserves it more than anyone except Richard Bachman from CC. Lasch never missed a game, lead the league in scoring and never got arrested. You cannot compare the two so stop trying.
Mar 18 2008, 8:09 am by
Don't Mess with the Boys Named SIOUX!!!! C'mon people character? This is Hockey! Not golf or tennis! Beer,fingers,fighting,peeing,ect. is hockey thats why we love it!!! if you want to have a chat or a cup of tea pick another sport!!!!!!
Mar 18 2008, 11:17 pm by Lake,North Dakota
He doesn't need the hobey when he's making millions starting next year. probably the only person in the league that has an NHL team trying to sign him all season long now that Okposo went pro.
Mar 19 2008, 9:13 am by
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