MINNEAPOLIS — Going to try something new on the blog this season. After select road games, we’ll do some takeaways instead of a full-on 9 Thoughts.
UMD beat Minnesota 3-0 Friday night in Minneapolis to emphatically open a two-game series.
Some thoughts …
1. Even though the Bulldogs didn’t start the game very well, the game wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. Weird, I know.
Minnesota had UMD hemmed in its own zone quite a bit in the opening minutes. But despite the struggles UMD was having on zone exits, the Bulldogs seemed sound structurally, and the Gophers didn’t generate a ton of big-time scoring chances.
It wasn’t one player or one line or one defensive pairing, either. There was some hot-potato puck-handling, and some not-great decision-making with opportunities to get the puck out and up the ice.
But then …
2. UMD’s freshman line was outstanding all night, and it was fitting they would turn the game in the first period. Hunter Anderson won a puck just outside the Minnesota blue line, and Daniel Shlaine stepped into a wrist shot that got by Gophers goalie Luca Di Pasquo, likely thanks in part to Shlaine using the defender as a bit of a screen. Didn’t look like Di Pasquo picked up that shot until it was too late.
Either way, it was certainly a sign. Shlaine, Anderson, and Ryan Zaremba would combine for UMD’s other even-strength goal, as Grayden Siepmann put home his own rebound early in the third for a 3-0 lead. Siepmann’s first career goal really salted this one away. Minnesota had a bit of a push in the final minutes, but Adam Gajan was sharp, UMD was very good in its own zone, and Gajan finally got his first shutout (second career) after having one spoiled on a third period goal four different times.
UMD coach Scott Sandelin has been looking for more secondary scoring. On a night where the WarHawks (I’ve been fed this name and it’s a good one) were held to two points and nothing at even strength (despite large gobs of offensive zone time), the secondary scoring sure picked up the slack.
3. This was a clinic in defensive hockey by UMD. The Bulldogs’ structure was good most of the night. After those early struggles, they were fantastic on zone exits. They gave the Gophers nothing. Minnesota attempted five shots the whole second period and 31 for the game.
UMD controlled possession, owned the lion’s share of the scoring chances, and made it look very easy on a night where it was obviously not.
We’ll see how Minnesota adjusts, but Game 1 was a clinical performance by UMD on the road, its most complete game in a long time. Fans should be psyched, as this was billed as the Bulldogs’ first big test of the season, and they passed with flying colors.
4. Mixed bag around the NCHC Friday night, but there’s a story still brewing in Oxford. Miami got a late goal from Max Helgeson to tie, then Ilia Morozov scored early in overtime as the RedHawks beat Lindenwood 5-4 to move to 5-0. Anthony Noreen basically started over this year, with 21 new players on the roster, and while stiffer tests lie ahead for Miami, you couldn’t ask for a better start.
With Michigan losing 5-2 at Western Michigan Friday, that leaves Miami (5-0), Union (4-0-1), and Wisconsin (3-0-2) as the only Division I teams to play a game and not lose at least once (the Ivy League schools don’t start until next weekend).
Clarkson took the lead in the first period and never gave it back, beating North Dakota 5-2 in Potsdam, NY. UND has dropped two straight. UMass got a late goal to beat Omaha in a back-and-forth game, 5-4. St. Cloud State took care of Alaska-Anchorage 5-2. Denver got goals from seven different players in an impressive 7-3 road takedown of Boston College.
5. There was a concerning development back in Duluth, where the Gopher women took care of UMD 4-0 in that series opener. While trying to dive on a loose puck in her goal crease, UMD junior goalie Eve Gascon fell awkwardly, injuring herself. It’s an upper body injury for Gascon, with no postgame update from head coach Laura Schuler.
3pm for that rematch Saturday. Hopefully we get good news on Eve. Never mind her importance to this team, which is really obvious, but you’d just hate for something to potentially stop her from having a shot at the Canadian Olympic Team as well. Those opportunities don’t grow on trees.
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6:30pm pregame Saturday from Minneapolis on Northland News Radio. Hope you’ll join us as UMD tries to make it a great weekend.
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