Air Tight Defense
The UND Fighting Sioux have the top rated defense in the WCHA and third overall nationally and have been tough to score goals against this season. Adding to their statistics this weekend the UND Fighting Sioux only gave up three goals the whole weekend to the UMD Bulldogs and UMD is no slouch when it comes to scoring goals.
What was impressive to me this weekend was that the Fighting Sioux held UMD Bulldogs to three goals all weekend, the UMD Bulldogs were 17th over nationally in scoring. What was even more impressive was the Fighting Sioux shutting down the Connolly boys (no they are not related) to a measly and impressive one point each - Mike Connolly (1g-0a-1pts) and Jack Connolly (0g-1a-1pts). That is no small feat because they are nice impressive dynamic offensive pair of players. The Sioux also held the talented Justin Fontaine (1g-0a-1pts). So basically the Fighting Sioux defense was able to limit the 4th and 5th (X2) best players in the WCHA to one point each.
Tough stretch for the Dogs
It is almost like the two teams are going different directions. UND has won three straight and UMD is kind of hit a tough stretch and kind of cooling off after starting out so hot.
The loss kept No. 9 UMD (18-13-1 and 14-9-1) in a tailspin, going 2-6 the last eight games and 1-10-1 the last 12 on North Dakota ice. The Bulldogs dropped to fourth in the league, four points ahead of North Dakota and Colorado College. [Rink and Run]
Second half surge?
The Sioux have a three game winning streak and are FINALLY scoring goals again (8 + 5 + 5 = 18 goals) in the last three games. While I am not ready to announce that everything is ok with the Fighting Sioux and they are off and running again towards the Frozen Four, it does appear that the Sioux may have righted the ship and peaking at the right time.
Brett Hextall has been impressive and has scored (8g-3a-11pts) in his last 7 games. It appears that Frats is back, Matt Frattin is also starting to chip in offensively and actually scored the last two goals of the second SCSU game and the first one of the first SCSU game.
[Box Score]
What's up with the Bulldogs? Although they do play 2 of the bottom 4 teams in the league in their last two series, they almost don't even look like a top-ten ranked team anymore. I think their problem lies with depth on offense. Yes, they have Fontaine and the Connolly boys, but they're all on the same line. Its like putting all your eggs in one basket. Huge series, possibly for the 5th and final home ice spot between UND and CC in the Springs next weekend. Extremely pivotal, I think CC needs points more right now with Denver on tap the following weekend.
ReplyDeleteYou really have to stop talking about the net thing, Goon. If the whistle had been blown, we could have won the face-off and scored. Or your team could have, you know, TRIED in overtime.
ReplyDeleteHow hard is it for the officials to get something basic like "if the puck touches the net you blow the play dead?"
ReplyDeleteThe refs screwed up the game.
How hard is it for you to understand "If the whistle had been blown, we could have won the face-off and scored."
ReplyDeleteRWD
ReplyDeleteHow hard for you is it to understand that "If the whistle had blown UND could have won the face off and scored, again" :)