Last weekend was featured by the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs traveling to Denver to face the Denver University Pioneers. Only six of the teams were in action last weekend, and only two teams play this weekend.
UMD 14-13-3 (10) vs DU 16-6-6 (2)
The hottest team in the NCHC took on the top-rated Team in the conference last weekend in a battle for conference supremacy. These games were pivotal in deciding the champions of the NCHC.
Friday was not the game for people who prefer fast-paced games.
Both teams failed to score in the opening two periods. There were a combined 25 shots taken with UMD only managing one shot in the second period.
The scoring started just two and a half minutes into the final period when a usual suspect scored; Henrik Borgström, his 17th goal of the season.
Neither team would score again as DU skated to a 1-0 victory.
Tanner Jaillet was a wall in net for the Pioneers blocking all 24 shots he faced. After only seeing seven pucks on goal through two periods, he remained vigilant in the third and survived the 17 shots put on his net.
Saturday’s contest featured much more scoring.
DU got out to a fast start netting the first goal of the game just over 4 minutes into the game. Logan O’Connor scored the goal, on the for the Pioneers, his fifth of the season.
The Bulldogs stormed back towards the middle of the period scoring two goals to put them ahead, 2-1 heading into the second period.
The Pioneers tied the game at 2-2, but Riley Tufte’s 13th goal of the season gave the Bulldogs the lead once again, 3-2.
Jarid Lukosevicius brought the game even with just over two minutes left in the second period.
Nine minutes into the final period, DU scored to give themselves a 4-3 lead, and an eventual victory by the same score.
UMD has this weekend off and hosts Miami University next weekend.
The Pioneers also have this weekend off and return to action next weekend where they’ll square off against Colorado College.
UNO 14-13-1 (13) vs SCSU 17-6-3 (4)
With SCSU scuffling, and UNO starting to heat up, the Mavericks were primed to make up some ground in the conference. Instead, they buried themselves even more.
David Pope was the only Maverick to show up Friday night. While his team mustered 18 shots all game, Pope scored three goals on five of those shots. The rest of his team couldn’t find the back of the net.
After holding a 1-0 lead after the first period, it all fell apart for the Mavericks.
SCSU scored two goals in the opening five minutes of the period, one of which came just 58 seconds in. Pope answered with a goal for UNO, but Mikey Eyssimont quickly gave the Huskies a 3-2 lead.
The Huskies quickly scored another goal in the opening minutes of the third period, but Pope once again scored for the Mavericks keeping the Husky lead at one goal, 4-3.
With the goalie pulled, Robby Jackson scored for the Huskies to seal the victory with a final score of 5-3.
SCSU dominated Saturday.
The Huskies took a 2-0 lead into the second period, and added another goal to the lead two minutes into the period.
The Mavericks quickly scored two goals making the score 3-2, but the comeback attempt was thwarted by the Huskies.
The Huskies added two more goals, one from Jake Wahlin, one from Will Borgen in the second period, and another goal coming in the third period lead to the eventual final score of 6-2.
SCSU was perfect on special teams scoring on both their power play opportunities while shutting down the UNO power play on both of their chances.
UNO has this weekend off and returns to action against UND next weekend in Omaha.
The Huskies are on the road next weekend as they head to Oxford, Ohio to take on the Miami University RedHawks. The Huskies were 2-2 against MU last seasons and were swept in Oxford.
WMU 13-13-1 (13) vs MU 10-13-3
After being swept at the hands of the Mavericks their last time out, WMU could not afford to have similar results last weekend. Like the Broncos, the RedHawks were swept last weekend and looking to right the ship.
Neither team scored in the opening period. The Broncos put the puck on net seven times to eight times from MU.
The RedHawks wasted no time in the second period to finally get on the scoreboard with a goal just over a minute in.
Gordie Green scored on the power play for MU, his 11th of the season, to extend the MU lead to 2-0.
The teams traded five-on-three gold to round out the period. Heading into the third period of play, the RedHawks held a 3-1 lead.
The defenses held up for most of the period until a Louie Belpedio goal added to the lead for MU, 4-1.
WMU scored in the final minute, on even strength, but they could not complete the comeback and fell 4-2.
Saturday night, MU got out to a lead on a power play goal with 38 seconds remaining in the first period.
Carter Johnson started the second period with his first goal of the season for the RedHawks adding to the 1-0 lead to make it 2-0.
This was the end of the success of MU.
Ethen Frank scored two goals, and then Lawton Courtnall added another as the Broncos took a lead they would not surrender, 3-2.
The Broncos handled a lot of adversity Saturday night. They allowed seven power play opportunities and couldn’t put a shot on net in the third period and still came away with the win. They were also out-shot 16-28.
Like many of their counterparts, the Broncos have this weekend off. They start back up again at home against St. Cloud State.
The RedHawks return home to face the SCSU Huskies. They are 4-6 against the Huskies since 2015.
Points Leaders:
1. Nick Halloran CC 39 2. David Pope UNO 38
3. Henrik Borgström DU 37
