{"id":26479,"date":"2004-04-17T18:36:33","date_gmt":"2004-04-17T23:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2004\/04\/17\/two-minutes-of-madness\/"},"modified":"2010-08-17T19:55:41","modified_gmt":"2010-08-18T00:55:41","slug":"two-minutes-of-madness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2004\/04\/17\/two-minutes-of-madness\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Minutes of Madness"},"content":{"rendered":"
They say the Kentucky Derby is the greatest two minutes in sports. There is officially some competition.<\/p>\n
What we all witnessed in the final two minutes of last Saturday’s NCAA championship game in Boston won’t soon be forgotten. In a game full of drama, if not goals, the final two minutes had everything you could imagine, and it all happened at a frenzied, harrowing pace. And with everything on the line.<\/p>\n
Maine had a goal disallowed in the first period because Mike Hamilton’s toe was in the crease. Moments later, Denver’s Gabe Gauthier scored to put his team up for real, 1-0. From there, it was a slugfest, as each team shut down the other. When the few opportunities came their way, neither team could convert.<\/p>\n
As the closing minutes approached, the desperation built.<\/p>\n
Maine came into the season knowing it wasn’t going to have a potent power play this season. It surprised everyone this season on the back of timely scoring, a balanced attack, and tremendous defense and goaltending. But in the playoffs, the power play was even worse. Now, in a twist of fate, it was all up to them.<\/p>\n
Flashback to the 129 seconds of insanity:<\/p>\n
2:20 remaining<\/b> — Maine’s Todd Jackson, in the neutral zone, makes a nice pass up ahead to Derek Damon. Denver defenseman Matt Laatsch is caught up ice slightly, and as he’s trying to backcheck Damon — with forward Max Bull covering his spot — takes him down just over the blue line with 2:15 left.<\/p>\n
2:09<\/b> — Denver touches up the puck on the delayed penalty. Laatsch heads to the box. He sits down and buries his head. … Maine’s power-play unit consists of Michel L\u00e9veill\u00e9, Dustin Penner, Jon Jankus, Todd Jackson and Prestin Ryan. Denver’s penalty killers are Gabe Gauthier, Ryan Caldwell, Matt Carle and Connor James.<\/p>\n Laatsch<\/em>: “I didn’t feel like the greatest hockey player in the world at that point. I can’t even remember the play.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 2:09\/2:00<\/b> — Penner kicks the faceoff back to Ryan, who flips a backhander from just beyond the blue line over the glass in the corner to the left of Berkhoel, out of play.<\/p>\nPower Play<\/h4>\n