Despite posting a 34-24 shot advantage on the night, the No. 11 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs dropped a 2-0 decision to the No. 10 St. Cloud Huskies on Saturday night in Duluth, Minn. For UMD's offense, it's the second time in the last two weeks that the Bulldogs have been shutout.

Junior goaltender Ryan Fanti made his fifth-straight start for the Bulldogs and turned away 22 SCSU shots on the night. Additionally, 5th-year senior defenseman Matt Anderson broke UMD's all-time games played record as he played in his 175th career game on Saturday evening.

The regulation loss means that UMD will head to St. Cloud next weekend for the first-round of the NCHC Playoffs. Entering Saturday evening, the Bulldogs needed just a point to secure fourth place in the NCHC standings and host St. Cloud next weekend. However, UMD will hit the road for a best of three series against the Huskies beginning on Friday. 

St. Cloud came out and outshot the Bulldogs 7-1 through the early portions of the first period. Midway through the frame, UMD was given the first power-play opportunity of the night after Jesse Jacques was tripped up in the neutral zone. Though they wouldn't find the back of the net with the man-advantage, the momentum began to shift to UMD. The Bulldogs would even up the shots through the back half of the period, generating a few chances off the cycle. With under two minutes remaining in the period, a shot from SCSU's Sam Hentges beat Fanti high blocker to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead after one. UMD held a 10-9 shot advantage after the opening 20 minutes. 

UMD picked up the pressure in the second and added to their shot totals. However, St. Cloud would strike just five minutes into the middle frame. While breaking out of their own zone, the Bulldogs turned the puck over to SCSU at the UMD blue line. The Huskies broke in 2-on-0 and beat Fanti five hole to extend their lead to 2-0. Like Friday night's contest, the Bulldogs found themselves in a 2-0 hole. Despite being down by two goals, the Bulldogs continued to press. Within the final minutes of the period, Blake Biondi would get two clean chances in front of the St. Cloud net, but back-to-back saves from David Hrenak would keep UMD off the baord. By the end of the second period, the Bulldogs held a 22-15 shot advantage. 

Heading to the third period down by two, UMD would outshoot the Huskies 12-9 in the final frame. The Bulldogs would note numerous high-quality chances, including a wide-open look from Tanner Laderoute in the SCSU slot. The Bulldogs elected to pull Fanti with 3:07 remaining on the clock. While playing with the extra attacker, UMD was able to hem the Huskies in their own zone for almost the entirety of the three minutes. However, the Bulldogs wouldn't beat Hrenak on this night. St. Cloud would leave Duluth with a 2-0 victory in game two. 

Up Next
UMD will meet the Huskies next weekend in the NCHC quarterfinals in St. Cloud. It'll be a best of three series, with game one taking place on Friday night.