The No. 9 University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team battled both the No. 20 Miami University (Ohio) and the penalty box Saturday night, but neither got the best of the Bulldogs, who swept the series with a 4-1 win in Oxford, Ohio inside the Goggie Ice Center Saturday night.
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The Bulldogs nationally ranked No. 3 penalty kill held the RedHawks scoreless in seven attempts – and without a goal in 11 tries over the series. UMD's NCAA-best power play did the rest, scoring two power play goals and arguably a third in the second period alone to break open the contest in the middle frame.
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After a deadlocked 0-0 first period, UMD used Miami's string of four penalties in the first 11:21 of the second period to take over the scoreboard, starting with blueliner Aaron Pionk's first goal of the season at 4:29 as the RedHawks power play expired. A quick 2:27 later, the Hunter Anderson struck for his second goal of the weekend on a 5-on-3 power play, and at 13:21, Scout Truman used a Miami screen on its own goaltender to give UMD a 3-0 lead off another power play goal, and Truman's second goal of the series.
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The RedHawks finally landed on the scoreboard 52 seconds into the third period, but could not take advantage of two more power plays in the third to pull any closer. Max Plante blocked a shot and then sent it the length of the ice for his 22nd goal of the year, sealing the series sweep for the Bulldogs with an empty net goal with 1:09 left in the third.
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Ethan Dahlmeir earned his second win of the weekend over his old team, making 24 saves in the effort. UMD was outshot 25-21 in the game, but went 2-of-5 on the power play while holding Miami, who got 17 stops from Matteo Drobac, went 0-of-7.
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Both Pionk (1g, 1a) and Anderson (1g, 1a) had two-point skates, and Anderson leaves Oxford as the UMD point leader on the weekend with four on two goals and two assists.
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UMD (20-12-0, 11-11-0) will finish up the regular season next weekend at AMSOIL Arena when it hosts Colorado College Friday and Saturday. Friday night – which is also Adam Johnson night – will get underway at 7:07 p.m., while Saturday, Senior Day, will drop the puck at 6:07 p.m.
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BULLDOG NOTES: UMD has hit 20 wins for the first time since the 2021-22 season … that year the Bulldogs had 22 wins … Hunter Anderson's back-to-back two point games is the first of his collegiate career … his four series points is also a career-best … with a goal in both games, Max Plante has moved into a tie for second in the NCAA with 22 … UMD's power play is now sitting at 31.4 … the Bulldogs had two or more power plays in consecutive games for the first time since they put up seven total on three and four power play outing efforts against Lindenwood back on Jan. 9-10 … UMD has now three times posted series with two or more power plays on back-to-back nights (Bemidji State, back on Oct. 17-18 was the other).
