Here is the story that will run in Sunday's Free Press, with a few extra comments that weren't able to get in the paper. Also, look for more on Dan Tormey's return to the nets in Monday's paper.
By Shane Frederick
Free Press Staff Writer
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – Remember all of that grit and heart the Minnesota State men’s hockey team thought went missing Friday night? Perhaps the airline lost it with a little luggage somewhere between Mankato and the Rocky Mountains.
If so, it was delivered to the Mavericks on Saturday at the World Arena, as they defeated No. 10 Colorado College 3-1 to snap a five-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association skid.
“That’s the way we need to play,” Mavericks coach Troy Jutting said. “From start to finish.”
Rylan Galiardi had two assists and scored the game-clinching empty-net goal, and goaltender Dan Tormey stopped 27 of 28 shots for his first win since Nov. 3, 2007.
“I think we just said, ‘Enough is enough,’” Galiardi said. “We really brought it tonight. We know we have the potential and the talent, but that’s not enough. You have to bring it.”
The Mavericks (10-10-3, 6-8-2 in WCHA) killed off six of seven Colorado College penalties by blocking shots, clearing rebounds and winning battles along the boards.
“I can honestly say every guy stepped up tonight and played the way they needed to play,” Galiardi said.
Mick Berge and Jason Wiley each scored a goal off Galiardi passes, giving the Mavericks a 2-0 lead through two periods.
Tormey, who was starting for the struggling Mike Zacharias for the second time this season and the second time in four games, was rock solid, and had a shutout bid going until about 7 1/2 minutes remained in the game.
“Whey my teammates are playing well, it elevates my game, and when I’m playing well, I think it elevates their game,” Tormey said.
Tormey showed that his glove hand didn’t have any rust when he swiped a Chad Rau tip-in try early in the second period.
“He made all the stops he’s supposed to stop and made a couple he’s not supposed to get,” Jutting said. “He’s a good goaltender.”
The Mavericks allowed three power-play goals in Friday’s 5-2 loss to the Tigers. But they killed off five penalties, including a minute-long 5-on-3, over the first 40 minutes Saturday and added a sixth kill early in the third period before Stephen Schultz finally scored.
"Last night, we didn't do the little, extra things," Jutting said. "Tonight we did. ... The difference between tonight and last night is we had every guy play that way."
Berge, the Mavericks’ senior captain, scored a power-play goal at 5:20 of the first period for a 1-0 lead. Berge, who snapped a nine-game goalless streak, fired in Galiardi’s pass out of the corner from the high slot. Nick Canzanello also assisted on the goal.
At 3:47 of the second period, Wiley shot in a Galiardi centering pass past goalie Richard Bachman, who ended up with 28 saves. Defenseman Kurt Davis also assisted on Wiley’s goal, giving him a team-high 18 helpers on the season.
Galiardi sealed the win, the Mavericks’ first since Nov. 22 at Michigan Tech, with 40.2 seconds remaining in the game.
Earlier in the game, Galiardi had a potential power-play goal waved off after it was ruled he played it with a high stick. On Friday, Bachman made two top-notch saves against him.
"I felt a little scared on the empty-netter," Galiardi said. "But it felt good. The night before, I had a lot of chances. Tonight I had a disallowed goal. It felt really good, not because it was a goal but because it ended the game. It felt good to clinch it like that."
Notes: Freshman Mike Louwerse went hard into the boards and was banged up late in the second period and did not return.
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