A first-period power play goal from Parker Mackay was all the scoring the University of Minnesota Duluth ultimately needed Saturday night thanks to the puckstopping efforts of Hunter Shepard.

The sophomore netminder, making just his sixth career start (and third in a row), stopped all 26 shots the University of Maine sent his way to backstop the No. 10 Bulldogs to a 2-0 non-conference victory and put the finishing touches on UMD's first series sweep of the young 2017-18 season. Shepard, who improved to 4-1-0 on year, also did his part to keep the Black Bears scoreless on their three power play opportunities. The Cohasset, Minn., product also made 26 saves on Friday when the Bulldogs upended Maine 3-2 to finish with a .981 saves percentage for the series.

Mackay's goal, his second of the year, came off a wrister from the between the face off circles with 5:32 to go before the first intermission. Riley Tufte, who scored once in the series' opener, gave the Bulldogs (4-2-2 overall) some insurance later in the second period with a one-timer that sailed over the glove hand of Maine netminder Jeremy Swayman. Junior center Peter Krieger and rookie defenseman Scott Perunovich each assisted on both of UMD goals. Perunovich was one of five freshmen the Bulldogs used on the blue line with one of the others being Dylan Samberg, who blocked a 2017-18 Bulldog single-game high six shots (and nine over the weekend).

UMD, which tops the nation in shot differential (+121), outshot the Black Bears 30-15 in the opening two periods and 37-26 for the game.

The Bulldogs will take a five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2) into St. Cloud, Minn., next Friday (Nov. 3) when they open their fifth season of National Collegiate Hockey Conference play against St. Cloud State University.