Rams stay perfect with OT win
by Virg Foss
For the second time in three weeks, Scott Oliver's son came through in the Nick of time.
Junior Nick Oliver's 6-on-4 power-play goal with 24.7 seconds left in regulation tied the game and senior Ben Nelson's backhander at 2:49 of overtime won it as the Roseau Rams edged Grand Forks Red River 2-1 on Tuesday night in a battle of two unbeaten high school hockey teams from neighboring states.
Roseau (14-0), the defending Minnesota Class AA state champion, and defending North Dakota champion Red River (12-1-1) put on a display of speed, skill, great goaltending and breath-taking transition games to keep a huge crowd at Fido Purpur Arena on the edge of the seats.
Oliver, who scored with less than a second left in regulation play in Roseau's victory over Bloomington Jefferson in the title game of the Herald Jason Stadstad Holiday Classic on Dec. 22, didn't wait long this time for his dramatic goal, his 11th of the season.
When Red River's Russel Crary was whistled on a controversial holding penalty with 53.1 seconds left in regulation, Roseau pulled goalie Mike Lee for a sixth attacker to set up Oliver for a scramble in front for the tying goal.
Then Nelson, Roseau's second-leading scorer, netted his 11th goal of the season in overtime to deflate the Roughriders, who had the better of the chances, especially in the first period.
