KALAMAZOO, Mich. — William Whitelaw got loose down the left wing side and led a two-on-one that produced the first shot on goal of the game for Western Michigan. But UMD captain Joey Pierce played the rush masterfully, preventing Whitelaw from getting a pass off, even if he wanted to, and Whitelaw’s shot was stopped by UMD goalie Adam Gajan.
That was in the opening minutes Friday. And it was really the only odd-man rush Western got all night.
UMD pounced on its opportunities and picked up a 4-1 win to (for now) move into first place in the NCHC.
(I’m keeping it in there, even if Denver ends up beating Miami and re-taking the top spot. The record will show UMD was in first place, even if only for a couple hours.)
Anyway, takeaways are here.
1. Was that the best we’ve seen UMD play so far? These things aren’t for me to decide, but if that wasn’t UMD’s best game of the season to this point, it’s close enough to merit a conversation.
Western Michigan came in having scored 23 goals over its last four games. The Broncos couldn’t generate much in the way of consistent pressure. The transition game they live off of was neutralized by some tremendous puck management. Pucks were sent below the goal line whenever UMD players didn’t have a play available to make.
The Broncos will generate transition chances by how they play. They block shots aggressively and will fly guys up the ice constantly. It’s a recipe for two-on-one and three-on-two rushes. UMD refused to feed that part of Western’s game, and the Bulldogs didn’t let anything come easy to the Broncos.
2. UMD’s defensemen have been getting more and more involved offensively, and it was two blue-liners who created the game’s first goal. Brady Cleveland took a pass up high from Max Plante and skated down the left wing. He then threw the puck across the low slot, where it found the stick of Grayden Siepmann, who tipped it past Western goalie Hampton Slukynsky for a 1-0 lead.
(With Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman apparently on hand, that might have been the best Cleveland has looked in UMD colors. He was physical when he had to be, and moved the puck well when it was on his stick.)
The blue line had a huge night. Exits were good most of the night, and when Western did get some pressure, it seemed the Bulldogs did a really nice job sticking to their structure.
3. This series matched up the top two penalty kills in the NCHC. Well, at least it did at the start. UMD was No. 1 coming in, at just under 90 percent. Western was second at a hair over 83.
UMD went three-for-three on the power play. And the Bulldogs did that with the top unit having a bit of an off night.
Yes, Max Plante got on the board in the second period, finishing a great passing sequence that Jayson Shaugabay triggered from the left wing. But the second unit — now featuring Hunter Anderson with Kyle Gaffney, Scout Truman, Aaron Pionk, and Siepmann — was responsible for the other two.
However constructed, the second power play has been working a bit more simple, direct game all season. It’s not the same as the top group, and that’s okay. But this was the most effective they’ve been, with Truman getting both goals, the first off a great setup by Anderson (more coming on him), and the second off good work to win a puck down low and get it up high to Pionk, who fed Truman in the right circle.
4. Speaking of Anderson, boy did he have a good night. The freshman from California was around the puck a lot on Friday, and he used his stick and smarts to create a couple scoring chances.
Yeah, he isn’t the fastest guy on the ice. But his stick, hands, and brain are elite, and when he’s using all three effectively, he’s a really hard player to take out of the lineup. That third line with Kyler Kovich and Harper Bentz was good all night, getting pucks low in the offensive zone and making Western work for possession.
Anderson finished with an assist and four shots after sitting out both ends of the series at Colorado College.
5. Congrats to Bentz, who in the second period became the 14th different UMD player to take a faceoff this season.
UMD has dressed the same four centers — Zam Plante, Gaffney, Kovich, and Daniel Shlaine — for all 17 games.
Please fix this insanity, NCAA. My spreadsheet will beg if it has to.
(Yes, this is petty. Most of us knew the switch away from the international faceoff rules wouldn’t speed up the game and would instead further slow it down. So now I’m just going to have to die on this hill.)
6. As this quick blog goes out into the world, Denver has a 4-0 lead over Miami at Magness Arena, likely ending the Bulldogs’ run in first place in the league. Drat.
Also, North Dakota held off St. Cloud State 4-3 at the Brooks Center. The Fighting Hawks stay one point behind UMD with two games in hand.
Elsewhere, the UMD women got goals from Rae Mayer, Thea Johansson, Grace Sadura, and Ida Karlsson in a 4-1 win at Bemidji State. Rematch Saturday at 3pm as the Bulldogs play their final game before holiday break.
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We’ll now see if UMD can snap out of the Saturday scaries. The Bulldogs are 9-0 on Fridays, but just 4-4 on Saturdays, which you’re probably aware of if you’re up late on a Friday reading this blog.
You can bet your bottom dollar that Western will bring it on Saturday. It’s the Broncos’ final game before break, and they’ll do everything they can to force UMD out of its game. Didn’t happen Friday, but they’ll try again.
5:30pm pregame on the radios. Back beforehand with the lines and a few other notes.
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