The No. 18 University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team took on the No. 4 University of North Dakota tonight in the second game in a home series. Despite early energy and a late push, UND won 2-0, keeping UMD off the scoresheet.
The Bulldogs came out strong, outshooting the Fighting Hawks and creating offensive chances. Six minutes into the game, UMD was forced into a tripping call to stop a breakaway. Halfway through their power play, UND converted with all four Bulldogs penalty killers around the crease. UMD was 4/5 on the penalty kill tonight.
They went back on the kill with a little over a minute left in the period, but the Fighting Hawks were called for roughing soon after. The Bulldogs started the second period 4-on-4. Through 20 minutes, UMD was outshooting UND 15-12.
Once both teams were back at full strength, UND took advantage of a flying puck and scored their second of the night. The pace in the second period was nothing like the first, despite allowing the Fighting Hawks the same amount of goals.
It took over half the period for the Bulldogs to register another shot on goal, and they ended the outshot 18-5, behind by ten shots total. Matthew Thiessen had to make several key saves through both periods (35 saves total). He, however, couldn't help that UMD was chasing UND on the ice, trailing in possession and faceoffs.
The third period was a bit of a return to pace for the Bulldogs, with a two-goal deficit and the clock winding down. They were outshooting the Fighting Hawks in the period and had evened out face off wins. UMD struggled to maintain possession long-term and bounces seemed to keep going the other way, with pucks blocked or stopped by the goal posts.
With a little over four minutes left in the game, a play was reviewed and UMD was called for a five minute major and match penalty. It ended any hopes of pulling the goaltender and scoring with an odd-man advantage.
Through 180 minutes, the Bulldogs were unable to find an answer for the Fighting Hawks. Head Coach Scott Sandelin said his team has got to stay engaged through games.
"You can't win in this league taking a period off," Sandelin said. "It's tough enough if you take five minutes off or ten minutes off, but not a whole period. Gotta get back to work. Stick together. First two games, we've got 22 more in the league and we've gotta find some ways to win some games here."
UMD travels next for a series against St. Cloud State University Friday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 18 at 6:00 p.m. Later this season, the Bulldogs face UND for a second series Feb. 23 and 24, in Grand Forks, ND.
