MINNEAPOLIS — Halfway through Minnesota State’s game at No. 2 Minnesota, the Mavericks could dream of an upset.
“It’s a 1-1 game and they’re on the power play,” the Gophers’ Kelly Pannek said. “Obviously, your first priority is to not let them score. Our PK is always highly aggressive. We don’t like to sit back; we like to put pressure on them.”
Minnesota (11-1-0, 9-1-0-0 WCHA) was able to force the puck to center ice, and Pannek took off in pursuit.
“I just skated as fast as I could; got my legs going,” she said.
Pannek finished off the shorthanded breakaway with a backhand deke, drew a penalty on the next shift, and scored within 20 seconds of the resulting power play. When she set up Dani Cameranesi to up the lead to 4-1 after another 37 seconds ticked off, the game was essentially over, although a few goals followed to produce the 8-1 final.
“I think we just had a little different mentality and a little more intensity that period,” Cameranesi said. “In between periods, we came in and talked a little bit and decide to raise our compete level.”
Pannek finished with three assists to go with her two goals, Cameranesi had a pair of tallies and a couple of helpers, and Sarah Potomak, the third member of the top line for the Gophers, added a goal and three assists.
“We all are just very determined to get the puck to the net,” Pannek said. “We like to score, we like to make plays, and it’s worked out really well so far.”
Nicole Schammel scored twice for Minnesota, and Taylor Williamson fired in the final goal.
“To score six in the second to blow that thing open was huge,” Minnesota coach Brad Frost said. “The first goal was waved off and I thought our team responded well.”
Minnesota State (2-9-1, 0-9-1-0 WCHA) answered within two minutes of the first Minnesota strike early in the middle frame, as Amanda Conway scored her first goal of the season on the rush. That effort, assisted by Jordan McLaughlin, proved to be it for the Mavericks’ offense, which mustered only 14 shots on goal.
They also had their struggles at the other end of the ice, as usual starting goaltender Brianna Quade missed the series, and 20 percent of the shots that the Gophers fired at the tandem of Katie Bidulka and Chloe Crosby found their way into the net.
“The first line — they’re playing at whole different level, but it was great to see the secondary scoring again,” Frost said.
Both squads are idle next weekend.
