A 6-0, 175-pound sophomore from Chestermere, Alberta, Eidsness turned aside 53 of 57 series shots on goal for a .930 saves percentage while allowing just two goals each night. He also blanked the host Tigers on all 10 of their series power-play opportunities, after CC entered the series with the league’s top rated power-play.
A draftee of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, Eidsness stopped 26 shots in North Dakota’s 3-2 (ot) victory over Colorado College last Friday (Feb. 26) night and held the Tigers scoreless on all five power-play chances.
He then posted another 27 saves last Saturday (Feb. 27) evening as the Sioux completed the double victories with another 3-2 triumph, recorded their first sweep at CC since 1998-99, and clinched a home playoff berth for a league-leading eighth straight season.
On the season, Eidsness ranks second among WCHA goaltenders for all games in goals-against average at 2.21, is fourth in winning percentage at .655 on a 17-8-4 record, is fifth in saves percentage at .910 and is first in minutes played with 1,850.
Elsewhere in NCAA news, Michigan State junior Corey Tropp was named the Spartans Most Valuable Player and Outstanding Offensive Player at the team awards banquet on Wednesday.
Tropp has been among the CCHA and national leaders in scoring all season. After the regular season, he is tied for 12th nationally in points (42), tied for 10th in goals (20), tied for 11th in power-play goals (9) and is tied for fifth in game-winning tallies (5). He twice earned CCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors, and was both the CCHA and Hockey Commissioner's Association (HCA) Player of the Month for December. Tropp has a 20-22-42 scoring line headed into the playoffs, and will appear in his 100th career game next Friday night in the CCHA quarterfinals.
