Couple things to look for in this game.
Can UMD build off its best period of the season, which was the final 20 on Friday? The Bulldogs took full and complete control of the flow of play then, outshooting the visitors from Massachusetts 20-4 and attempting 32 shots to just 10.
Yes, a three-minute power play helped, but UMD only had four of its 20 shots during that power play. It was at level manpower that UMD really imposed its will on this game. Stonehill goalie Connor Androlewicz was under siege and mostly held his own, but the damage had been done.
UMD lost Jack Smith on a check from behind by Stonehill defenseman Cameron Gaudette in the third period. Smith left the ice mostly under his own power with what was clearly an upper-body injury of some description. He did not return and is out for the rematch. That has placed UMD’s lines in a blender again (though not nearly as much of a blender as it could have been), which is unfortunate because 1) we hate injuries, 2) Smith has already had more than his fair share of physical maladies, and 3) Smith’s line with Joe Molenaar and Carter Loney was playing fairly well.
(By the way, Gaudette was given a major for boarding, which was fine, but given the increased temperature of the game at the time, we were somewhat surprised the officials chose to leave Gaudette in the game. We’ll see how this one plays out, because Saturday games often carry a higher intensity level as is.)
Anyway, Adam Gajan vs Linards Lipskis.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD forwards
Plante (Zam) – James – Shaugabay
Molenaar – Loney – Bettens
Perkins – Arnott – Bechen
Menghini – Fischer – Bentz
UMD defense
Gallatin – Dubinsky
Pionk – Pierce
Hanson – Kleber
Bodnarchuk
UMD goalies
Gajan – Knapp – Sandy
Stonehill forwards
Ireland – Schwenninger – Heath
O’Brien – Lehtinen – Shreifels
Hunter – Chambers – Melady
Galante – Hastings – Ronayne
Stonehill defense
Orr – Banquier
Gibson – Campione
Rosenthal – Mannion
Davies
Stonehill goalies
Lipskis – Androlewicz – Fitzpatrick
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