February
13, 2004
Duke sends N.C. State packing 4-3
HILLSBOROUGH, NC -- Duke came to the SportsPlex needing a win
to retain control of their own destiny in terms of a first round
bye in the ACCHL Playoffs and the Blue Devils left with just
that in the form of a 4-3 win over N.C. State. The Wolfpack
defeated the Blue Devils earlier this season in overtime so
Duke was pleased to get redemption and some momentum with the
playoffs approaching.
N.C. State opened the scoring in the first period and the
Wolfpack's 1-0 lead stood up after one period. However, Duke's
Bert Maidment got the Blue Devils on the board with a tally
at 7:39 into the second stanza. The Wolfpack responded when
five-year player and team captain Nick Sabo made a great pass
on the rush across the slot to teammate E.J. Mrozak, who scored
to give N.C. State a 2-1 lead. A Steve Lake power-play tally
tied the game for Duke and the teams headed into the second
period intermission knotted at two.
N.C. State took the lead for the third time with 15:35 left
in the game on a Sabo marker. The determined Blue Devils again
responded as Ben Tyson converted a great pass from Jeff Lake
to tie the game at three just 1:04 later.
Duke carried the momentum through much of the game and the
Blue Devils' hard work paid off as Jeff Lake scored the game
winner on the power play with 5:36 left. Lake blasted a slap
shot from the point past N.C. State netminder Nick Brown.
N.C. State had some of its best scoring chances in the game
after the Lake tally but Duke goalie Clayton Jernigan shut
the door. Lake also had some key face-off wins down the stretch
as Duke held off the Wolfpack for the dramatic 4-3 victory.
GAME NOTES
Ben Tyson and Jeff Lake were Duke's Mad Dog Players of the
Game... Duke had 8 penalty minutes while N.C. State had 18.
The Blue Devils netted three power play goals in the contest
and held the Wolfpack scoreless on their four power play opportunities...
Duke outshot N.C. State 32-27... A Duke win next week against
North Carolina gives the Blue Devils a first round bye in
the ACCHL Playoffs. The final seedings and Duke's potential
playoff opponents have yet to be determined... Duke has defeated
every ACCHL team this season... Duke has been tied in or had
the lead in every third period the team has played in this
season... The game was the last official home match of the
season for Duke's seniors. The Blue Devils were undefeated
at home this year for the first time in Duke Hockey history...
Duke's head coach Brent Selman and N.C. State's head coach
Mike Young are the winningest active coaches in the ACCHL.
The pair now has a 5-5 head-to-head record all-time. |
