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Blaine goalie likes it loud

By Loren Nelson, Editor and David La Vaque Star Tribune, 03/04/11, 8:10PM CST

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'Screamin' Nick Malvin leads Bengals to OT upset of top-seeded Maple Grove


Blaine junior Nick Malvin makes one of his 41 saves against Maple Grove in the Section 5AA title game. Photo by Helen Nelson

The co-existence between Blaine goaltenders Nick Malvin and Danny Harper wasn’t always peaceful.

“We were competitive,” Malvin said. “Sometimes we wouldn’t get along. Sometimes we would get along.

“It was a love-hate relationship at times.”

The graduation of Harper, who backstopped Blaine to three straight state Class 2A tournaments, left the Bengals’ starting goaltending duties squarely in Malvin’s blocking and catching mitts.

No more love-hate.

No, there was only love for Malvin from his teammates, coaches and the massive Blaine cheering section after the junior stopped 41 shots in the No. 2-seeded Bengals’ 4-3 upset victory over No. 1 Maple Grove on Friday, March 4, in the Section 5AA championship at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum in St. Paul.

“Danny and Nick in the past had butted heads a little bit,” Blaine coach Dave Aus said after the Bengals qualified for the state tournament for the sixth consecutive year. “I think what really happened was Nick really began to mature and he learned from Danny what it takes in a big game.”


Blaine goaltender Nick Malvin stops a shot and Bengals defenseman Mike Cameron waits to help clear the rebound. Photo by Helen Nelson

What it took for Malvin was a breakaway save on Maple Grove’s Spencer Bell. It took rock-solid positioning on a backhand shot by Shane Wolden. It took a point-blank save on the Crimson’s Dylan Steman late in the third period.

It took … well, you get the idea.

“He was unbelievable,” Bengals sophomore Michael Brodzinski said about Malvin. “Every single time he made a save he would just yell. He was so excited tonight, he was on fire.”

So what was Malvin yelling?

Turns out, nothing in particular.

“He would just yell,” Brodzinski said, “anything he wanted.”

Malvin made 16 saves in the first period, when top-seeded Maple Grove all but dumped a puck bucket on the wiry goaltender. It was more of the same in the second and third, when the No. 4 state-ranked Crimson launched 14 shots at Malvin in each period.

“What else can you do?” Maple Grove coach Gary Stefano said. “The shots we had. ...

"(Malvin) played awfully well.”

Malvin has played awfully well all season. He finished the regular sreason ranked fifth in the state with a .931 save percentage. He was ninth with a 1.86 goals-against average.

Malvin’s most impressive stat might have been his 14-4-4 regular season record. Not bad work for a goalie on team that didn’t figure to have that much success after losing Mr. Hockey Nick Bjugstad to early graduation, Harper and several other senior standouts.

With the stakes raised and pressure cranked full throttle in the section playoffs, Malvin responded by playing pretty much like he did in the regular season. In other words, he’s been lights out. Malvin had a .929 save percentage and 1.99 goals-against average in three section playoff games.

“It definitely pushed me in practice over those two years,” Malvin said about playing behind Harper.

And the yelling? Where did that come from? 

“I was just in the mood, all the intensity … I was just in the mood,” he said giving a wooooohooooo example of his on-ice vocals.

“It feel great.” Malvin said. “I don’t even have any words for it right now.

"I’m still in shock.”

-- Loren Nelson, Hockey Hub

Blaine's 'Other' Brodzinski provides clutch scoring


Blaine's Michael Brodzinski (20) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Maple Grove in the Section 5AA championship game. Photo by Helen Nelson

Michael Brodzinski and his Blaine teammates are accustomed to getting big goals from Michael’s older brother, Jonny.

But Michael, a sophomore defenseman, tallied the two biggest goals of Blaine’s 4-3 overtime victory against Maple Grove in Friday’s Section 5AA title game at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum in St. Paul.

Brodzinski’s first goal tied the game in the third period. His second goal, scored in overtime, sent the Bengals to the state tournament for the sixth consecutive season.

“Michael stepped up tonight,” Bengals goaltender Nick Malvin said. “He came out and took control.”


Blaine's Michael Brodzinski, left, and Jonny Brodzinski celebrate during the Section 5AA awards ceremony. Photo by Helen Nelson

Briggs Fussy emerged as Blaine’s first hero, giving his team a 2-0 lead with goals in the first and second periods. And Malvin repeatedly shut the door on Maple Grove’s offense. The Crimson finished with a 44-27 edge in shots on goal.

The first of those shots finally connected in the second period as Maple Grove defenseman Trent Bolin scored on a drive from the blue line at 11:28.

Jonny Brodzinski had a chance to restore a two-goal Blaine lead late in the second period when the Bengals were awarded a penalty shot. But Maple Grove goaltender Ryan Coyne made the save.

A wild third period ensued, starting with a goal from Maple Grove’s Shane Wolden at 8:48 to tie the score 2-2. Blaine then drew a penalty for too many men on the ice and the Crimson capitalized with Tony Paulson’s power-play goal at 10:11.

Maple Grove, which tied and beat Blaine earlier this season, took its first lead of the game at 3-2. But the Bengals remained poised.

Then Michael Brodzinski lifted their spirits, knotting the game 3-3 just 29 seconds after Maple Grove went ahead.

“That was a huge goal because they outplayed us for long stretches of that game,” Aus said.

Said Brodzinski, who launched his shot from just inside the blue line: “It was an amazing feeling. Right after I scored everyone went nuts. It was a huge turnaround for our team. I think it boosted our confidence.”

Just 35 seconds into the extra session, Brodzinski won it for Blaine with a power-play goal nearly identical to his first goal.

“The second one went a little bit higher,” he said.

-- Davd La Vaque, Star Tribune

Video Highlights

Blaine senior Jonny Brodzinski's second-period penalty shot

Statistics, Summary

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Game Recap

Sophomore defenseman Michael Brodzinski scored a power-play goal 35 seconds into overtime as No. 2-seeded Blaine upended top-seeded Maple Grove 4-3 on Friday, March 4, in the Section 5AA championship at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum in St. Paul.

Brodzinski, who had played a forward position in Blaine’s section semifinal victory over Osseo, was moved back to defense against the Crimson. He also scored with 6:20 left in the third period to tie the score at 3 as the Bengals (20-4-4) pushed Maple Grove (22-4-2), ranked No. 4 in Class 2A, into the extra period.

The victory sends the Bengals to the state tournament for the sixth consecutive season.

Junior Nick Malvin turned in a stellar performance for the Bengals, stopping 41 shots.

Maple Grove senior goaltender Ryan Coyne, made 22 saves, including one on a second-period penalty shot by Blaine senior Jonny Brodzinski.

Maple Grove junior defenseman Drew Aspinwall was called for hooking with 1:09 left in the third period. Blaine remained on the power play in the overtime when Brodzinski scored the winner on a waist-high blast from the point.

-- Loren Nelson, Hockey Hub

Three Stars

1. Michael Brodzinski, Blaine
The sophomore defenseman scored to tie the game at 3 late in the third period, then one-upped himself by hammering a wrist shot through traffic just 35 seconds into overtime to give the Bengals the upset victory. Brodzinski has four goals in three playoffs games and 13 goals in all this season.

2. Nick Malvin, Blaine
If not for Brodzinski’s late heroics, the Bengals’ junior goaltender easily could have been the No. 1 star. He made 41 saves, and at least half of them were worthy of the “spectacular” stamp as Maple Grove peppered him with point-blank shots.

3. Tony Paulson, Maple Grove
The junior forward scored the goal that gave the Crimson a 3-2 lead and, for a short while, put them on the verge of the program’s first trip to the state tournament. Paulson and linemates Dylan Steman and Tyler Dunagan created heavy pressure in the Blaine zone for most of the game.

-- Loren Nelson, Hockey Hub

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