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Parks’ goal propels UND to fourth straight win
- Updated: January 24, 2015
Mark MacMillan laughed a little bit and shrugged his shoulders.
What is with all these shorthanded goals this season? “Couldn’t tell you,” he said.
The University of North Dakota’s nation-leading ninth shorthanded goal – a third-period tally by senior Michael Parks – was the difference in UND’s 2-1 men’s hockey victory over Colorado College on Friday night in front of 11,682 in Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Parks stole a bouncing puck from Tigers defenseman Jaccob Slavin, skated in alone, faked to the backhand and slammed home a forehand with 13 minutes, 23 seconds left in the third period.
That goal stood as the winner as UND won its fourth straight game and improved to 17-5-2 overall and 8-4-1 in National Collegiate Hockey Conference play.
“We were just benefitting from a lucky bounce,” said Parks, who leads the nation with six shorthanded points this season. “Their high D-man fumbled it, and I was able to chip it by him, and I was all alone. That’s just us earning a lucky bounce.”
MacMillan, who tallied two shorthanded goals against the Tigers in a game earlier this season, had an even-strength goal Friday as UND rallied to beat the league’s last place team.
Colorado College dropped to 5-15-1 overall and 1-10-1 in NCHC play.
“I liked our effort, obviously,” said first-year Colorado College coach Mike Haviland. “I thought we were good from the start all the way to the finish against a very good hockey team in a tough building to come into. You make a mistake on the power play and a team that leads the nation in shorthanders made us pay.
“It’s tough to win. It’s tough to win hockey games. It’s a fine line. We’ve come a long ways, but we’ve got to continue to get better.”
UND will go for its second straight sweep at 7:07 tonight as its six-game homestand comes to an end.
UND goaltender Zane McIntyre continued his outstanding play in the series opener against the Tigers. He allowed a tip-in from Alex Roos just 4:01 into the game, but blanked the Tigers the rest of the way. His 30-save performance improved his save percentage to .935 and his goals-against average to 1.84.
McIntyre’s most crucial saves came with just over eight minutes to go on Colorado College’s leading scorer, Cody Bradley, who had a pair of point-blank chance that McIntyre kicked out with his right pad.
The Tigers put on the pressure in the final 30 seconds after McIntyre lost his stick, but UND’s defenders were strong in clearing pucks.
“I thought we were really sporadic in the first,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said. “We got a little better in the second. Obviously, the MacMillan goal was the key part of the game for us, but we were able to get a little better as the game went along.”
UND evened the game with 3:37 left in the second period when MacMillan got a puck behind the net, faked like he was going to wrap it, slammed on the breaks and came back to the same side. Colorado College goalie Tyler Marble (26 saves) slid out of position and couldn’t get back in time.
The winner came with UND’s Connor Gaarder in the penalty box.
MacMillan broke his stick off the draw and came to the bench for a new one. Hakstol said that may have caused some confusion for the Tigers’ power play.
“Parksy made a good play on top,” Hakstol said. “You’re not going to catch him on that breakaway. I thought the play he made was a real strong power type of move to score the goal.”
Hakstol said that UND is using more forwards than usual on the penalty kill this season, which could explain some of the shorthanded goals. It has kept the penalty killers fresh.
“I think that’s a factor,” Hakstol said. “I think it’s guys working hard and making the right plays. We haven’t cheated for any of them. They’ve been good shorthanded goals in terms of doing it the right way. It’s not like we’re cheating out of the zone. We’re working hard on the penalty kill.”
FIRST PERIOD: 1, CC, Roos (Wamsganz, Bradley), 4:01.
SECOND PERIOD: 2, UND, MacMillan (Parks, Panzarella), 16:23.
THIRD PERIOD: 3, UND, Parks, 6:37 (sh).
SAVES: CC, Marble 10-8-8—26. UND, McIntyre 13-7-10—30.
