UAA 2 - UND 1

On Thursday I made the prediction that UND would split the series with the UAA Seawolves, I had the games mixed up but I predicted the final outcome of the series. The reason I made that prediction of a split was, no matter where UAA is sitting in the WCHA standings, UAA is a tough place to play at, it’s a historical fact. While I still think UND should have and could have swept the Seawolves, they didn't. It doesn't take much to figure out that the Sioux are defiantly a better team. Honestly, I not too disappointed with a series split.

Silver lining time: Even with the loss UND is 7-2-1 in the last 10 against the Seawolves. UND is also 3-1-0 in its last four games in Anchorage. I am sure with the win some fan with a press pass soiled himself after the Fighting Sioux lost to the UAA Seawolves. With the loss UND is 4-1-1 going into the Bye week. If I remember correctly UND was 2-4-0 after six games at this point last season.

Here is what the Sioux have done the last five years in Anchorage. [props]
2004-05 Season Split in Anchorage
2005-06 Season Split in Anchorage
2006-07 Season Were swept in Anchorage
2007-08 Season Didn't play in Anchorage
2008-09 Season Swept in Anchorage
2009-10 Season Split in Anchorage

Here is what College Hockey News had to say about the game last night. I can also confirm that UAA is big and slow and if the officials allows them to get away with their obstruction tactics they are hard to play against. This scheme can still be beat by keeping the feet moving and getting pucks deep. There were also a lot of questionable penalties called during last night's game. Andrew MacWilliam is UND's new version of Matt Greene who was punished by the officals for throwing legal checks.

CHN: Big and slow -- that's been the knock on UAA, and it looked like it Friday in a 5-0 loss. But the Seawolves were able to slow down North Dakota in this one, and use their strengths to their advantage this time. The Sioux only mustered 23 shots on goal in losing for the first time this season. UAA got two goals in the second, and didn't allow one until the closing minutes. “We gave up that first goal in the first minute of the period,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said. “We spent a majority of the second killing three minor penalties that happened right in a row. That killed any type of a chance we had at gaining momentum. It allowed (Anchorage) to build momentum and keep it.”

Positives +

Insignificant senior forward Darcy Zajac continued his solid play and had (1g-1a-2pts) for the weekend.

Local boy Mario Lamoureux (1g-1a-2pts) on the weekend. Mario Tied for seventh in the the WCHA for scoring (2g-2a-4pts) also tied for seventh in the WCHA in scoring are teammates Dacry Zajac with (1g-3-a-4) and Chay Genoway (4g-0a-4pts).

Freshman goaltender Aaron Dell getting the shutout in his first career start on Friday night, I still wonder why Hakstol didn't come back with him last night. There are going to be choices in net for the Fighting Sioux and I personally like Dell’s stand up style play better than the out of control butterfly goaltending of Brad Eidsness.

While his game does have some flaws, statistically Brad Eidsness is ranked 12th nationally in goaltending.

Negatives -

The last three of four goals scored against Brad Eidsness have been scored on his glove side/weak side while he failed to cover the post. These weak untimely goals can't not happen all the time, a weak goal deflates a hockey team and that first goal killed UND momentum, before the goal in question they were taking it to UAA. Seriously, someone needs to work with Brad Eidsness on staying square to the puck and positioning. There is also no reason to be lying down on the ice all of the time.


[Box Score]
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1st Period (20:00)
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AKA-1 Craig Parkinson (2-Tripping) NDK 0x1 6:23
NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Kneeing) AKA 0x1 15:37

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2nd Period (20:00)
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AKA 1 - 0 6x6 LL Kevin Clark (4) (Lee Baldwin, Josh Lunden) 0:29
AKA (+): 9,7,16,21,22,G49 NDK (-): 17,5,29,7,24,G31
NDK-2 Ben Blood (2-Holding) AKA 1x2 4:21
AKA 2 - 0 6x5 PP GW Kane Lafranchise (1) (Tommy Grant, Daniel Naslund) 6:06
AKA: 4,16,7,21,40,G49 NDK: 11,5,2,9,G31
AKA-2 Josh Lunden (2-Hooking) NDK 0x2 7:32
NDK-3 Jason Gregoire (2-Tripping) AKA 1x3 8:05
NDK-4 Mario Lamoureux (2-Elbowing) AKA 1x4 12:47
NDK-5 Ben Blood (2-Roughing) 15:12
AKA-3 Kevin Clark (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 15:12
NDK-6 Andrew MacWilliam (2-Interference) AKA 1x5 18:05

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3rd Period (20:00)
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AKA-4 Trevor Hunt (2-Hooking) NDK 0x3 13:14
AKA-5 Curtis Leinweber (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x4 15:16
NDK 1 - 2 6x6 Darcy Zajac (1) (Mario Lamoureux, David Toews) 18:34
NDK (+): 11,9,18,5,25,G31 AKA (-): 36,4,17,11,14,G49

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End of Game