BOYS HOCKEY: Buffalo shuts out Bemidji 1-0

DULUTH – Bemidji couldn’t get on the scoreboard Friday afternoon and paid the price.

Despite outshooting Buffalo 21-17 in their consolation bracket game at the Duluth Heritage Holiday Classic, the Lumberjacks couldn’t find a goal and lost to the Bison 1-0.

“We gotta create goals,” BHS head coach Wade Chiodo said. “It’s tough to win when you don’t score, that’s the bottom line.”

The teams skated to a scoreless first period before Buffalo finally got on the scoreboard in the second. The Bison scored at the 3:24 mark when Jack Patnode got one past Bemidji goaltender Grant Tharaldson for the goal. Cale Eheresmann got the assist.

“We’re getting our opportunities but we’re gripping the stick a little too hard,” Chiodo said of the Lumberjacks, who fell to 2-8-0 on the season with the loss. “We’ve got to get confidence back in the offensive end and find a way to overcome this little drought.”

Tharaldson made 16 saves for the Lumberjacks, while Michael Otten stopped all 21 shots for the Bison (5-5-1) in the shutout.

The Lumberjacks return to the ice at 10 a.m. today for the seventh place game of the tournament. They’ll take on either Detroit Lakes.

Buffalo 1, Bemidji 0

Bemidji 0 0 0 – 0

Buffalo 0 1 0 – 1

First Period – No Scoring.

Second Period – 1, Buff, Patnode (Ehresmann), 3:24.

Third Period – No Scoring.

Shots On Goal – Bemidji (8-3-10=-21); Buffalo (6-4-7=21).

Goaltenders – Bemidji, Tharaldson (17-16); Buffalo, Otten (21-21).

Penalties-Minutes – Bemidji, 1-2; Buffalo, 0-0.