• Box Score: UNO 2, MS-Mankato 1, OT
* * *
MANKATO, Minn. — Just 54 seconds after UNO goalie Ryan Massa left with an apparent serious injury, Bryce Aneloski's slap shot gave the Mavericks a 2-1 overtime victory Saturday night over Minnesota State-Mankato before they retreated to a subdued postgame locker room.
Massa, a freshman from Littleton, Colo., coming off a brilliant performance in last Saturday's 3-1 win over top-ranked Minnesota-Duluth, earned a second straight start for the first time all season.
He had 39 saves as UNO was outshot for a third straight game and surrendered only a game-tying, power-play goal in the third period by Jean-Paul Lafontaine.
Early in the overtime, Minnesota State set off on an odd-man rush and one of its players crashed into Massa in goal.
According to radio descriptions, Massa appeared to have suffered a head or neck injury and stayed motionless on his stomach as the net was removed from its moorings. A neck brace was applied and Massa was placed on a backboard, but also appeared to have moved his legs briefly before being taken to a local hospital.
UNO officials weren't able to immediately update Massa's condition late Friday night.
After a delay of about 10 minutes, the game resumed and Dayn Belfour — the only other goaltender who had made the trip — took over for Massa. Two seconds later, MSU's Adam Mueller was called for slashing Belfour and UNO went on the power play.
Aneloski, who had deftly directed a dangerous Maverick power play all night, fired a slap shot through traffic in front of the net and past goaltender Phil Cook for the game-winner.
It was the second goal of the season for Aneloski, a junior from Pekin, Ill., and a former seventh-round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators (2010).
UNO improved to 12-9-4 overall and 9-5-3 in the WCHA, moving out of a tie with idle Denver and into sole possession of fourth place in the league.
Minnesota State dropped to 7-17-1 and 3-13-1 in front of a Verizon Wireless Center crowd of 3,317.
Lafontaine's power-play goal with 11:50 left in the third period gave Minnesota State a tie after it had trailed for slightly more than two full periods.
Though Minnesota State had the better early scoring opportunities, UNO went ahead 1-0 as Matt White converted on an odd-man rush set up by the work of defenseman Matt Smith.
It was the 12th goal of the season for White, a sophomore from Whittier, Calif. White also added an assist on Aneloski's game-winner.
It stayed that way until Lafontaine's power-play goal, a rebound that came to his stick, which came on Minnesota State's fifth power-play chance of the game.
It was the 12th goal for Lafontaine, including eight on the power play, one short of the national lead.
UNO, which has had the most successful penalty-killing team in the WCHA, had killed off 37 of its previous 38 penalties.
MSU's Cook, who had won his past two starts, including Saturday's shutout of Wisconsin, got his sixth start of the season. The junior from Wheaton, Ill., turned in another strong performance with 35 saves.
UNO is 2-0-4 in overtime games and improved to 4-3-2 in WCHA road games.
The series concludes with a 7:07 p.m. game Saturday.
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
RSS Feeds