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 Freshman Adam Krug had two points including the game-tying goal. |
Feb. 12, 2005
Plymouth, Mich. - The Wayne State University men's hockey team (12-14-3 overall, 5-7-3 College Hockey America) skated to a 2-2 overtime tie with visiting Niagara University (10-16-2, 5-8-2 CHA) Saturday afternoon at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth.
The tie was WSU's third this season, one shy of the single-season mark of four set during the 2001-02 campaign. It was also the sixth overtime game between the two squads, and third at the Warriors' home rink, with Wayne State now holding a 3-1-2 advantage.
The Warriors began strong scoring just 38 seconds into the contest. Freshman right wing Adam Krug (Livonia, Mich./Sioux City Musketeers) picked up a loose puck behind the Purple Eagle net and feed sophomore wing Jason Bloomingburg (Canton, Mich./Texas Tornado) in the far corner. Bloomingburg's pass to the right point was one-timed by junior blueliner Steve Kovalchik (Riverview, Mich./Omaha Lancers) past NU goalie Jeff Van Nynatten.
Kovalchik's sixth goal of the season was also his first even-strength goal of the year. Bloomingburg earned his eighth assist of the campaign, while Krug notched his fourth helper.
Neither team was able to score for over 34 minutes until Krug's clearing pass was deflected by NU defenseman Andrew Lackner to Purple Eagle leading scorer Barret Ehgoetz. He carried the puck into the left corner and scored on a bad angle shot.
Wayne State thought it had taken a 2-1 lead with 3:01 left in the middle stanza, but a dump in hit linesman Brent Reid and bounced into the net that was vacated when Van Nynatten had skated behind his cage awaiting the puck. The ruling was no goal and the game remained tied at one after 40 minutes.
Niagara went ahead 2-1 when Ryan Carrigan's wrister from the blueline went past a screened Warrior goalie, Matt Kelly (Hull, Mass./Topeka Scarecrows). Ehgoetz had won an offensive zone face-off and Jason Williamson had tipped the puck back to Carrigan at the right point.
With 6:39 remaining in the third period, NU's Tim Madsen was assessed a minor penalty for checking from behind. WSU used nearly the full two minutes before Krug redirected Bloomingburg's centering pass behind Van Nynatten. Junior blueliner Greg Poupard (Jackson, Mich./Waterloo Black Hawks) had started the scoring play by keeping the puck in at the blueline and feeding Bloomingburg.
Two-and-a-half minutes before Krug's game-tying goal, Warrior wing John May (Livonia, Mich./Springfield Junior Blues) had blasted a shot that beat Van Nynatten but hit the post and caromed into the corner.
Both teams had quality scoring chances in the extra session. NU's Ryan Gale was stoned by Kelly with 2:35 left while Van Nynatten made a nice glove save on Krug with just 43 seconds remaining in overtime.
Kelly finished the contest with 24 saves including five in overtime. Van Nynatten made three of his 17 stops in the extra frame. WSU went one-for-five with the man-advantage while Niagara was zero-for-three.
The teams will conclude the weekend series with a 2:05 p.m. face-off Sunday at the Compuware Sports Arena.
Notes:
Wayne State is 7-4-2 when scoring the first goal and 1-1-1 when tied after 40 minutes.
Twenty-two of WSU's 29 games have been decided by two goals or less with the Warriors having a 9-10-3 mark in those contests.
Adam Krug had his second career multiple-point game. His first was a hat trick on Nov. 20 at Bowling Green.
Jason Bloomingburg has now tied Mark Nebus for team-high honors with seven multiple-point games after his two assist performance.
WSU is now 0-10-2 when scoring two goals or less this year.
The Warriors are 6-5-1 overall at home this year and 2-2-1 in CHA home games.
