Nate Ziegelmann made a strong case Saturday night on why he should be a part of the University of Minnesota Duluth's future goaltending plans.

The sophomore from Grand Forks, N.D., turned in the finest performance of his still somewhat fledgling Bulldog career, stopping 31 of of 32 University of Minnesota shots, in a hard-fought 2-0 regular season finale loss to the No.1-ranked Gophers at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.

Ziegelmann, who transferred to UMD from the University of North Dakota in 2004-05 and became eligible to skate with the Bulldogs this past fall, was making just his sixth collegiate appearance and only his third start (all as a Bulldog).

The Gophers got both of their goals, including an empty-netter with 35 seconds remaining in regulation, from junior forward Ryan Potulny while blanking UMD for a second straight night (they were 7-0 winners Friday). It marked just the second time in the 62-year history of the Bulldogs' hockey program that UMD suffered back-to-back shutout setbacks to the same opponent.

UMD, which was outshot by a slim 33-27 margin on the night, was 0-for-2 on the power play while holding Minnesota in check in all three of its opportunities with the extra man. The Bulldogs have now been shut out on five occasions this season (equalling a team mark set in both 1999-2000 and 1997-98) and four times in their last six games.

The Bulldogs will head to University of Denver for the opening round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff which begin this Friday. UMD placed ninth in the final 2005-06 league standing with a 6-19-3 record and are 9-23-4 overall.