UMD’s two-game sweep of Cornell was significant on many fronts.
As discussed a few times over the last week, the Bulldogs simply needed some good things to happen. It never felt like anything was insurmountable, but obviously it was important to get going as soon as possible, and Scott Sandelin was able to rely on some of his best players to make that happen.
Dominic James scored twice in Saturday’s 4-2 win over Cornell that secured a two-game sweep. The Bulldogs got another goal from Wyatt Kaiser, who tallied in both games, and Blake Biondi scored a power-play goal on Saturday.
The wins get UMD back to .500 through most of its non-conference schedule. The Bulldogs play Bemidji State in a home-and-home series out of break in January. That’s obviously important, but remember that UMD went 5-5 in its non-league games last season, finished fifth in the NCHC, and was the No. 5 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament.
It’s overvalued, yes, but sometimes we the public can make it even more important than it actually is. Shocking, I know.
8 THOUGHTS
1. It was really good to see James break out the way he did Saturday. Not only did he score a beautiful breakaway goal, but he was the beneficiary of Quinn Olson’s shot block springing a two-on-one at the tail end of a Cornell power play in the second period Saturday. Olson hit him with a perfect saucer pass, leaving James nothing to do but hammer the puck in the largely-open cage.
And that wasn’t all James did. He also won 19-of-24 faceoffs, which I believe is the best single-game performance by a UMD center (minimum 20 draws taken) since Justin Richards went 21-for-24 against Minnesota State on Nov. 29, 2019.
“It’s good to see those guys play a little bit more like we’re used to seeing them,” Sandelin said of the so-called James Gang of James, Olson, and Biondi, who were broken up for Friday but reunited in some line shuffling Saturday after junior Luke Mylymok was injured Friday.
“Dom was going, he was great in the faceoff circle, almost 80 percent. That line had some really good momentum going for us. It was important. They stepped up. They were leaders.”
2. After some rough patches over the Bulldogs’ losing streak, the penalty kill went 8-for-8 this past weekend. Wyatt Kaiser’s big weekend was a part of that, for sure, as was the play of goalie Zach Stejskal. But Cornell only had 12 shots on goal over the power plays (seven of those came over the last two power plays, which included 6-on-3 and 6-on-4 time at the end of the game), so credit can certainly be spread around.
Olson and James played a big role in the kill, as did forwards Luke Loheit and Tanner Laderoute. Kaiser and Darian Gotz were among those also logging heavy penalty kill minutes, and the Bulldogs probably weren’t hurt by the fact Cornell was just starting its season, but the Big Red’s power play units are chalk full of older, experienced, skilled players.
Going back to the Wisconsin series, the killers have gotten the job done ten straight times, including a five-minute power play in that Saturday UW game. It’s a big shot of confidence for the unit at a really good time.
3. Kaiser quickly asserted himself upon his return Friday, and that carried into Saturday. He scored the goal that put UMD ahead for good in the second period, making a great power move to the net. He also sprung James with a brilliant pass for the game’s first goal.
A three-point weekend got Kaiser the NCHC’s Defenseman of the Week honors on Monday. As I joked on the air Saturday, he’s now heard from the conference in consecutive weeks, but this time it was a good thing.
“Kais was outstanding,” Sandelin said of his top defenseman. “Big time goal.”
That was a level from Kaiser we hadn’t yet seen this season. It’s hopefully a sign of things to come, because he’s already an elite defender, and it does feel like there’s untapped offensive potential there that could make him an extremely dangerous player.
4. Stejskal had a very strong weekend. The junior stopped 64 of 68 shots faced, and made a handful of impressive saves along the way.
(He was edged out for the conference’s weekly award by Denver goalie Magnus Chrona, who had a shutout and only conceded twice all weekend at Miami.)
After a couple tough Friday outings against Minnesota State and Wisconsin, it was great to see Stejskal as sharp as he was against Cornell. His rebound control was improved, he moved very well in the crease, and he was smart about getting whistles for his team to regroup and/or change by covering pucks.
UMD has an experienced goalie behind Stejskal in Matthew Thiessen, who has a .949 save percentage in three appearances. If Stejskal keeps the net, it’s because he’ll have darn sure earned it.
5. Sandelin wanted to see his team come out a little harder defensively with a three-goal lead in the third period Saturday, but he did think the weekend was a step forward for his group.
“We talked (Saturday) morning,” said Sandelin. “Don’t be satisfied. It’s going to be a harder game, they’re going to be a better hockey team. They’re just getting going. We’re still finding our way a little bit. When you win, it’s still a learning thing. Huge for the psyche, the mental, but it’s back to work on Monday, and hopefully our focus and energy is a lot better, and guys are feeling a lot better.”
James talked about the mood at Saturday’s morning skate being much better, even after only one win. Last week wasn’t easy by any stretch, especially the first part of the week, so I’m sure this week will almost feel like a dark cloud has been lifted.
Of course, nothing in our world is permanent. The Bulldogs enter league play this week, and as Sandelin said, “you all know what that’s about.”
6. Surely, the coaches began the week with some work. Freshman forward Isaac Howard is set to return off his two-game suspension this week, and one would assume he will actually return. I don’t see him sitting when he’s healthy and available.
So what do you do with the lines? Does Howard go to the right side of Ben Steeves and Carter Loney? Or the right side of Olson and James? I don’t see either of those two-man groups being split up. Steeves and Loney have some serious chemistry, and you can’t sanely break up Olson and James after what they did Saturday.
I don’t see Howard going to the left side of Jesse Jacques and Laderoute, which is how UMD started the season. I sense it’s to the right side of either of UMD’s top two lines, which creates a logjam of sorts on the right side.
Man alive, am I glad I’m not the guy who has to make this decision. 😊
7. The UMD women played a great game Saturday against Wisconsin, one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from the Bulldogs in that rivalry. Unfortunately, sometimes a team can play a great game and not win. The Badgers’ high-end skill didn’t have many opportunities to show itself, but it took advantage of enough of them to win 4-3 and split the two-game series.
Dynamic freshman Caroline Harvey scored twice for Wisconsin, while fifth year senior Nicole LaMantia added a goal, as did Olympian Lacey Eden, who scored in both games.
UMD got goals from Hanna Baskin, Gabby Krause, and Ashton Bell, but Naomi Rogge’s game-tying goal inside the final two minutes was disallowed because of an offsides challenge by UW coach Mark Johnson.
Like the Ohio State trip the previous weekend, UMD has again proven it can play with the best teams in the country.
Maybe this is because UMD is one of the best teams in the country. What a concept.
UMD plays at new No. 1 Minnesota this weekend. Can’t wait to see how this team continues to evolve.
8. The gauntlet begins. The Bulldogs kick off their tenth season of NCHC play this weekend at Colorado College. The Tigers split with Air Force last weekend, winning 8-0 at home and losing 6-3 on the road Saturday up at the Academy.
It will be UMD’s first chance to see the new Ed Robson Arena, which opened last season. The building is around half the size of the old Broadmoor World Arena, and second year coach Kris Mayotte told me at NCHC Media Day one of the cool things that’s developed at the new arena is a bona fide student section.
Should be a fun environment, which wasn’t the case at the World Arena.
Hopefully I can get in there Thursday afternoon to look around. Either way, I’ll be back from Colorado Thursday with a preview.
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