Before Sunday’s rematch with Arizona State, UMD coach Scott Sandelin was emphatic he wanted a better defensive effort from his team.
“I didn’t like parts of our game,” he said during our pregame interview. “I thought we were way too loose, and gave up way too much to them offensively. We aren’t going to win a lot of hockey games if we play like that and give up those kind of chances.”
Sandelin credited junior goalie Zach Stejskal for making some high-danger saves among his 26 to keep the Bulldogs afloat long enough for Derek Daschke to deliver the game-winner in overtime.
After a 4-1 win Sunday to sweep the series, Sandelin was incrementally more pleased with his incrementally better team from the night before.
“The first 20, 25 minutes wasn’t very good,” Sandelin said. “We were very sleepy. We weren’t winning battles. We weren’t moving our feet. They were. Once we got that goal, I thought we were the better team the second half of the game.
“I thought our structure was better for the most part. I thought we got better as the game went on.”
While conceding they still “have a lot to work on,” Sandelin’s team still got two wins on the weekend, and not even goofy PairWise math (the overtime win is basically 2/3rds of a win per the computer) can take away from what was a good start to UMD’s season.
1. One of the biggest differences from Saturday to Sunday was the job UMD did limiting Arizona State’s opportunities in transition. The Bulldogs weren’t perfect in this area, but it felt like the Sun Devils’ top forwards — guys like Robert Mastrosimone, Josh Doan, Lukas Sillinger, Matthew Kopperud, and others — didn’t have the room to roam, especially as the game went on. Heck, Kopperud got himself so hot under the collar that he took a ten-minute misconduct in the second period after UMD took a 3-1 lead.
Sandelin liked how the Bulldogs closed out the game, and he had to be thrilled with the discipline. ASU took a pair of misconducts (one of them as the game ended), while UMD took just five minor penalties, two of which washed with ASU fouls for four-on-four play.
2. Matthew Thiessen made his UMD debut in goal, stopping 29 of 30 shots. The Maine transfer looked sharp from the start, and he had to be. As Sandelin mentioned, UMD didn’t start strong, as the Sun Devils jumped to an 8-2 shot advantage in the early going. There weren’t a lot of Grade-A chances in there, but these are skilled players, and a high shot volume can lead to trouble.
“Matty kept us in there, made some saves,” Sandelin said.
Yes, UMD has made a name for itself in recent years with an impressive stable of No. 1 goaltenders, but the Bulldogs have also shown they aren’t afraid to let a goaltending competition play itself out. There are plenty of examples, including Kenny Reiter vs Aaron Crandall in 2010-11, Hunter Miska vs Nick Deery vs Hunter Shepard in 2016-17, Hunter Shepard vs Nick Deery in 2017-18, and Ryan Fanti vs Zach Stejskal in 2020-21.
3. New assistant coach Cody Chupp has taken over the UMD power play, and early returns are certainly good. The Bulldogs scored three times on six chances for the weekend, and there was some variety along the way.
Isaac Howard’s goal Saturday came after a good zone entry by Dominic James and a shot off the rush that led to a rebound. Ben Steeves got his first career goal on a solo zone entry, getting himself in great position to unleash a shot with a partial screen in front of ASU goalie TJ Semptimphelter. And Owen Gallatin got open in front after UMD maintained puck possession by winning below the goal line.
Sandelin noted after the game that there were some reads that players missed on the man advantage, but there’s time now to work on these things with a week off coming.
4. Steeves signaled his arrival on the college scene with two goals in 57 seconds to put UMD ahead for good Sunday. After the power play marker, it was Carter Loney stealing a puck from Kopperud at the ASU blue line, then holding as Steeves made himself available down the right wing. Steeves then made a slick move across the top of the crease and stuck the puck in around Semptimphelter. Kopperud thought he was tripped by Loney, so he skated to the referee and (probably) said some mean words that cost him ten minutes in the penalty box.
Howard tallied once Saturday, and Steeves twice Sunday, so it’s good to see the highly-touted freshmen get on the board early. Hopefully a good sign for both of them confidence-wise as the season really gets going next week.
5. I know Sandelin doesn’t seem to mind having this week off after playing one weekend, but it’s totally weird. Of the four NCHC teams who played last weekend, Miami (at UMass-Lowell) and Western Michigan (at Ferris State Saturday) play again this week. St. Cloud State is off, as is UMD. That allows a Bulldog coaching staff to work with a younger team and try to advance in a few areas.
Defensive coverage was improved Sunday, but there’s still work to be done. UMD can be more disruptive in the neutral zone. And the Bulldogs can do more to establish a forecheck. Those are just a couple examples. There’s also plenty more video work and teaching with the special teams.
6. And next week’s opponent dictates UMD get much better this week. Minnesota State awaits the Bulldogs’ visit for a two-game series next week in Mankato. MSU played for a national championship last April, losing to NCHC rival Denver. The Mavericks lost Hobey Baker winning goalie Dryden McKay and top scoring forward Nathan Smith, but Mike Hastings’ cupboard is farrrrrr from bare.
Preseason CCHA Player of the Year Brendan Furry leads the way, along with some guy named Ryan Sandelin that you’ve probably heard of. MSU sports a top defenseman in Jake Livingstone.
And I do. not. care. that Omaha beat MSU 7-2 Saturday night in an exhibition game. You shouldn’t, either. Hastings cares, because I’m sure there are plenty of teaching points in that tape. But if you think Minnesota State is giving up the CCHA throne easily, you’re probably premature.
For a Bulldog team that got a lot younger, this is going to be a great challenge.
7. Mick Hatten of The Rink Live relayed a measure of good news regarding injured St. Cloud State defenseman Josh Luedtke.
“The good thing is that some prayers have been answered,” Huskies head coach Brett Larson told SCSU radio play-by-play announcer Jim Erickson in a pregame interview. “The scans and everything they did the hospital turned out good. Obviously, he was not feeling great this morning, but he’s feeling a bit better.”
We are all hoping for continued good news, but this was a nice start. The Huskies completed the home-and-home sweep of the Tommies with a 4-0 home win Sunday.
8. Four more NCHC teams get their seasons started for real this weekend. Denver is co-hosting the Ice Breaker with Air Force. The Pioneers get Notre Dame Friday and Maine Saturday, while Air Force will host Maine Friday and Notre Dame Saturday in Colorado Springs.
North Dakota gets Holy Cross for a series at The Ralph. Omaha is at home to face Niagara this weekend, while Colorado College will host Alaska Anchorage for a two-game series at Ed Robson Arena. After splitting with Western Michigan in its return to Division I hockey last weekend in Anchorage, CC will represent the last games this season for UAA against teams from the NCHC.
The blog returns next week. Enjoy the fall weather before it’s too late!
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