The No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will host No. 9/10 Bemidji State University this weekend at AMSOIL Arena. The Western Collegiate Hockey Assocation rematch of last season's WCHA playoffs will also double as the Bulldogs 'Pink the Rink' series.
UMD will wear special pink jerseys both nights that will be available through silent auction through the second period of Saturday's contest. All proceeds from the jerseys will go to the Essentia Health Foundation/Cancer Center. Friday's game will get underway at 7:07 p.m.m while Saturday's skate is slated to start at 4:07 p.m.
USCHO RANKING: UMD-- No. 4, Bemidji State-- No. 10
USA TODAY/USA HOCKEY MAG: UMD-- No. 4, Bemidji State-- No. 9
THE SERIES: UMD is 64-12-5 all-time against the Beavers and swept BSU last February in Bemidji, Minn. in the first round of the WCHA playoffs. Ashleigh Brykaliuk and Lara Stalder are UMD's point leaders against the Beavers, with Brykaliuk now posting eight goals and four assists for 12 points in 16 games against BSU, while Stalder has scored four goals and added seven assists 11 points in the same 16 contests.
UMD pulled off an upset of then No. 7 Bemidji State in Bemidji, Minn. in the WCHA's opening first round of the playoffs last Feb. 26-27, stunning the Beavers the first afternoon by a score of 5-1 before using overtime to seal the series with a 2-1 win the following day.
After UMD went 0-4 against BSU during the regular season -- the Beavers were the only team that shutout the Bulldogs twice during the regular season -- UMD scored more goals on Feb. 26 than it had on BSU all season.
Then junior Katherine McGovern scored two goals, the first with 1:13 remaining in the first period, and the second cam just 1:35 into the second period. Michela Cava tucked the game-winning goal between McGovern's tallies15 seconds into the second stanza, and Ashleigh Brykaliuk added a goal late in the same period to give UMD the 4-1 lead after 40 minutes. Lara Stalder added another goal at 7:18 of third period and Kayla Black made 33 saves for the Bulldogs in the win.
The Bulldogs played into their sixth overtime game of the season the following day, after pulling to an even 1-1 with BSU on a goal by Brykaliuk at 4:32 of the second period. BSU outshot UMD 40-17 through the first 60 minutes, but Black kept the game even and the result was overtime. The Bulldogs had the first five shots in overtime and out shot the Beavers 14-7 before Stalder finally netted the game-winner at the 11:10 mark in extra time to seal the playoff sweep. Black tied a career-high with her 46 saves in the contest.
With the win, UMD improved to 8-2 all-time against BSU in the playoffs.
LAST TIME OUT: No. 4 UMD twice took out leads on then No. 2/3 Minnesota both night's last weekend, but fell by 4-3 and 3-2 overtime scores.
Friday night, UMD and Minnesota were tied 3-3 heading into the third period, but the Gophers scored with 5:40 remaining in the contest to etch out the win. Two freshmen scored two of UMD's three goals -- Jalyn Elmes and Sydney Brodt, who also had an assist in the contest.
The Bulldogs built a 2-1 lead after the first period Saturday afternoon on two goals from senior winger Lara Stalder. After a scoreless second period, Minnesota equalized 2:08 into the third period, eventually pushing the game into overtime. The Gophers managed to score with just 1:03 remaining in extra time to keep UMD winless in its last 21 meetings with Minnesota dating back to the 2011-12 season.
Outscored on the weekend 7-5, UMD was also outshot 81-40. The Bulldogs went 2-of-11 on their power play, while the Gophers went 4-of-9. Sophomore goaltender Maddie Rooney made 74 savesin the series, including 42 Saturday night. Rooney has now made 40 or more saves against Minnesota three times in her career.
NOTES FROM THE MINNESOTA SERIES: The Bulldogs are now 24-51-7 all-time against the Gophers.
--The Gophers managed to hold UMD under its 4.20 goal per game average it held prior to the series, allowing just 2.50 goals against.
--Minnesota also held UMD to just 5.5 on its power play. The Bulldogs had a 26.3 power play success rate prior to the series.
CHART TOPPERS: Senior forward Lara Stalder ranks second in the NCAA in points per game with a 2.00 points per game average on six goals and six assists for 12 points in six games. Those stats also put Stalder No. 1 in the WCHA for points per game and goals per game. Stalder is currently on a six-game scoring streak, having registered points in every Bulldog game so far this season. Stalder also ranks No. 4 in goals in the NCAA (1.00 goals a game) and fifth in assists (1.00) and leads UMD and the WCHA.
--Senior forward Katherine McGovern has also recorded a point in all six games so far this season -- a career-best, having rung up three goals and five assists for eight points in six games. McGovern, who had a career-high 15 points last season (6g, 9a), is already halfway to that mark this season in just six games (3-5=8).
--Ashleigh Brykaliuk ranks ninth in the nation in goals per game with five in six skates.
--Blueliner Sidney Morin is tied for fourth in the NCAA in points by a defenseman. The senior has dished five assists in the last six games.
--Bulldog rookie Sydney Brodt is also ranked among the nation's top freshmen at seventh with five points in six games on a goal and four assists. Brody currently tied as the WCHA's leading rookie scorer with her five points.
--UMD owns the fourth-highest scoring offense, averaging 3.67 goals a game. The Bulldogs also have the fourth best power play, checking in at 23.3.
BULLDOG NOTES: UMD will play its third ranked opponent in four weeks this weekend when it hosts No. 8/9 Bemidji State. The Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 4 in both the latest USCHO.com and USA Today/ USA Hockey Magazine's weekly polls for a second-straight week.
--With a 3-0-1 record at AMSOIL Arena so far this season, the Bulldogs will put their unbeaten at home streak on the line. UMD is unbeaten in its last five games in Duluth dating back to last year.
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Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umd/whockey/xlive.htm
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