KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Scott Sandelin is fully aware that his team has been playing with better discipline over the last dozen or so games. He’s fully aware that the UMD penalty kill is 43-for-50 (86 percent) since Oct. 28.
There’s no need to take chances, not against Western Michigan’s power play (29 percent on the season) in Western Michigan’s building. Especially when the full-throated Lawson Lunatics haven’t seen their beloved Broncos play since Dec. 9.
Matthew Thiessen gets the start for UMD to open this two-game series, his first start in a non-exhibition game since Nov. 18 at St. Cloud State (that said, Sandelin was very pleased with Thiessen’s performance in the first half of the St. Thomas exhibition). All three goalies are dressed for this game. The hope is that Zach Stejskal will be able to go in the Saturday finale. Zach Sandy is also dressed and available if needed.
As noted already, UMD has all its available skaters on the trip and in the lineup. Western will scratch one of the listed skaters before the game.
Matthew Thiessen vs Cameron Rowe.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD forwards
Olson – Perkins – Steeves
McMenamin – Loheit – Biondi
Menghini – Smith – Johnson
Kleven – Fischer – Bettens
UMD defense
Pionk – Gotz
Gallatin – Dubinsky
Bast – Pierce
Bodnarchuk
UMD goalies
Thiessen – Sandy – Stejskal
Western Michigan forwards
Bump – Grainger – Wendt
Hillebrand – Costantini – Colangelo
Cassetti – Washe – Larkin
Schingoethe – Michaels – Phillips
Bishop
Western Michigan defense
Fiedler – Galambos
Berger – Sjolund
Hilsendager – Bauer
Knuble
Western Michigan goalies
Rowe – Laursen
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