UMD’s 11 games so far in 2022 have gone, in order, as follows:
Loss
Win
Tie
Win
Loss
Win
Loss
Tie
Loss
Win
Loss
Nothing consecutive. How crazy is that?
Hopefully, nothing is consecutive after the rematch with North Dakota, given that UND used three power-play goals to beat UMD 4-3 Friday night.
UMD played a pretty strong game Friday. The Bulldogs outshot UND at even strength 38-17, the second-most shots UMD has posted at even strength in an NCHC game this season. After the game, coach Scott Sandelin did bemoan his team not getting to the front of the net enough, so surely that will be a point of emphasis in this one. Especially when you consider that UMD’s three goals came from a shot near the slot (Blake Biondi in the right faceoff circle), a partial breakaway from Dominic James, and a tip of a Hunter Lellig shot by Kobe Roth, who had gotten to the front of the net.
(It’s especially true when you look at UND’s four goals all coming from distance shots and traffic in front of Ryan Fanti. It’s how UMD conceded both its goals against Denver last Saturday, with long shots eluding Zach Stejskal through traffic. The Bulldogs need to be willing to get to the front of the net, stay there, and try to take Zach Driscoll’s eyes away. It won’t always work, but when it does, a horn will sound and people will cheer.)
Speaking of Stejskal, after a great moment with his return last Saturday, we could top it here when he is introduced as UMD’s starting goalie for the first time since before his cancer diagnosis on Oct. 15. Get here early to be a part of it.
Tanner Laderoute, who blocked a shot during a UND power play in the third period, is out for this game. We’ll effort an update with Sandelin shortly. Watch Twitter for whatever we find out.
Riese Gaber (undisclosed) is out for North Dakota. Captain Mark Senden returns from injury as the 13th forward.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD forwards
Roth – Gilling – Bender
Olson – James – Biondi
Kleven – Jacques – Almquist
Mylymok – Loney – Loheit
UMD defense
Anderson – Roehl
Gotz – Kelley
Gallatin – Lellig
Francis
UMD goalies
Stejskal – Fanti – Patt
North Dakota forwards
Costantini – Ford – Caufield
Budy – Schmaltz – Calder
Portz – Ness – Albrecht
Kunz – Jamernik – Montgomery
Senden
North Dakota defense
Kleven – Frisch
Jandric – Johnson
Moore – Bast
North Dakota goalies
Driscoll – Hellsten
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