Panzer attack/ North Dakota star's goal in OT dooms CC

Colorado College's top line battled North Dakota's for every inch of ice at the World Arena on Saturday night and for 62 minutes, their matchup was a spellbinding draw.

It was the last second that made the difference.

North Dakota's star center, Jeff Panzer, took a terrific pass from behind CC's net and popped it home for a 4-3 overtime victory, grabbing its half of the weekend doubleheader in dramatic fashion. Panzer's line scored all four of North Dakota's goals.

"The breaks went our way," Panzer said. "We just got the luck of the puck."

After Friday night's run-and-gun, 6-4, win, the Tigers came into this game with a jolt of confidence. They were rewarded with a hard- fought 3-3 tie through regulation. Had they held it for 3 minutes, 9 seconds longer, they would have emerged with an unlikely three-point weekend against the WCHA's runaway leader.

That 3:09 was the margin between CC and a tie in overtime. It's when the Tigers suffered the one bad break they couldn't afford.

First-line wing Alex Kim had the puck behind his net and tried to clear it, but didn't get the puck high enough and North Dakota wing Bryan Lundbohm smothered it. Then Lundbohm gained control and spotted Panzer camped in front of CC goalie Jeff Sanger.

"It was a tough way to end," Kim said. "We played so well and worked so hard to lose because of one mistake by me, a mistake I shouldn't have made."

Unlike Friday's game, which was decided largely by the play of role players and backup goalies, Saturday's game was one for the stars. CC's came out hot. North Dakota's finished hot.

The Tigers' leading scorer, Peter Sejna, quiet in Friday's win, put CC up 2-0 in the first period with two impressive goals. He, Kim and Justin Morrison were outskating and outplaying North Dakota's line of Panzer, Lundbohm and Ryan Bayda.

"Then we kind of stopped playing," Sejna said. "North Dakota is a very good team, but we can play with them like we can play with any team."

North Dakota caught up early in the second on Panzer's first goal, before CC went ahead again on a power-play goal by Chris Hartsburg. Lundbohm then tied the game at 3 with 5:42 left in the second just as a North Dakota power play expired.

But like Friday night, defense ruled the third period and both teams pitched a shutout. CC goalie Jeff Sanger left off where Colin Zulianello left off Friday, making huge glove saves late in the third to help force overtime.

But Sanger didn't have a chance on the game-winner.

The consolation was, CC (11-4-1) remains in second place in the WCHA, tied with Minnesota and Wisconsin. North Dakota (13-3-4) has won 11 of its past 13 games.

"I thought it was a great effort," said CC coach Scott Owens.

"We proved we can skate with those guys. Hopefully we'll get to play them again."

If so, this was one heck of a warmup.

- Lynn Zinser may be reached at 636-0376 or lzinser@gazette.com Edited by Larry McFarland; Headline by Scott Gremillion

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