Denver just couldn’t play their game. The Pioneers were pinned in their own end most of the game, stopped on the powerplay and played at the Fighting Hawks pace. This was a tough weekend to play one of their worst conference series of the season. However, give the Fighting Hawks credit, they stiffled Denver all weekend and earned the sweep.
In the first two minutes of the game, DU’s Jared Wright scored an even-strength goal with an assist from Rieger Lorenz. The Fighting Hawks clanked two shots off the bar in the period until eleven minutes later when UND knotted the score 1-1 on a Cameron Berg powerplay goal following an interference call on DU. The period looked and felt much like Friday night’s game, favoring North Dakota’s stingy, blue line defense and clogged passing lanes. Shots-on-goal were 10-7 in favor of UND in the first period but the game played out at the Fighting Hawks pace.
The second period was more of the same. Sam Harris got Denver on the board at 7:17 into the frame, 2-1. Six minutes later, UND’s Jackson Kunz evened up the score 2-2. That is how the period ended, setting up a critical final twenty minutes for Denver to salvage a weekend split. Denver was struggling on the powerplay (0-2) while the Fighting Hawks were 1-2. Denver trailed 28-15 on faceoffs, a troubling sign that carried over from Friday night.
Heading into the third period, Denver was left with little margin for error as the Fighting Hawks clogged passing lanes, limited space and allowed few scoring opportunities for DU. The third period was played even-up until 11:25 when DU’s Sean Behrens was charged with a hit to the head and given a five-minute major and game misconduct. The penalty left the Pioneers open to the deadly North Dakota powerplay. North Dakota’s Owen McLaughlin made Denver pay with a snipe with 1:30 remaining on the powerplay. With time still remaining in the major penalty, UND’s Riece Gaber scored a second goal after the drop, 4-2. The major penalty dented the Pioneer’s hopes. Left with only seven minutes, Denver’s chances were all but dashed. Carle pulled Matt Davis with over four minutes remaining but Denver could never seriously threaten Ludvig Persson with the extra man.
UND shut down DU’s offense all weekend and Denver dropped nine points behind North Dakota into the middle of the NCHC pack. Three powerplay goals were the difference while DU went 0-2 on the man advantage. Shots on goal were 33-24 and faceoffs 35-21 – all in North Dakota’s favor. Denver has work to do to match the Fighting Hawks level of play and work rate. There is time – still ten games left to improve in conference regular season play before the NCHC Tournament.
Unfortunately, DU lost to a better team this weekend…
With an ineffective power play, continued poor faceoff effort, and confused offense & defense, they were no match for the Sioux. IMO Matt Davis played pretty well, but he was tested way too often.
Yes, there is time to right the ship, but this weekend will create doubt and weigh heavily on the psyche of the team. It’s now up to Carle and the rest of the coaching staff to reinstill confidence in the players and the team as a whole.
Next weekend’s home series versus a reeling WMU will be a good place to begin rebuilding.
UND played a different style this weekend and completely shut down DU. Holding them to 2 goals each night is very impressive. Go Fighting Hawks! (Sick of the Sioux stuff. There are a lot of us in Grand Forks who feel this way. Embarrassing how they cling to that old name.) DU will make a run in postseason. Likely see you soon.
Sorry about the name…old bad habits are hard to break.
Go Sioux!
PK is a dumpster fire at a sewage plant! North Dakota was 5-8 on the PP for the weekend.
North Dakota is a complete team and a title contender this year and was better than DU in all phases of the game this weekend. What UND did with its defense this year (a complete rebuild – all new faces), is unprecedented in college hockey, and DU simply could not operate its offense with that kind of blanket coverage in all zones. UND also whipped DU in face-offs and blocked shots, and frankly, in hustle, for most of this weekend, which is also concerning for a DU team with aspirations.
I think at this point in the season, DU is what it is — a top-10 kind of team, but probably not a top 5 NCAA title contender. Unfortunately, DU’s historically strong offense this year is usually enough to beat many teams. But this DU team is weighed down by HISTORICALLY bad goaltending (It’s been 25 years since it was this bad) – an .883 team saves percentage — 58th out of 63 teams nationally, and that reality also crushes the DU penalty kill, which is 49th nationally at 75%. That is untenable for any playoff hopes. Until DU gets even average goaltending (.900), this team has no shot at a championship.
Can they get even average goaltending this year? They have 4 goalies on the roster, and not one of them has proven themselves to be an average goalie at this level to date.
Draw your own conclusions…
Full credit to UND–no question they were the better team this weekend and are the more complete team overall. I didn’t see any of last night’s game but saw most of Friday’s game. UND plays a very structured and disciplined defensive system which was very effective at limiting DU’s time and space. Combine that with UND’s better special teams and goaltending, and you end up with a sweep. The Fighting Hawks are well positioned for a title run.
As for the Pios, this team continues to be a wild card in my opinion. Capable of great things, possibly a very dangerous team in the postseason, but also one that has some clear shortcomings to date.
Only 10 games left in the regular season.
Dunker will find a silver lining. On Friday we were outscored by one goal until UND hit 2 empty nets. Saturday all even until the late 5 minute major. I agree we were totally outplayed, but not on the scoreboard. ND’s defensive performance was as good as I’ve seen in a long time. The other 6 teams in the NCHC can’t defend like UND, not even close. So now we try and grab second place in our league. One additional thought on the Sioux defensive effort. They were so prepared for 120 minutes of great team defense. No way they stay that way focused in every game.
Props to the Soosies. Clearly the better team this weekend. Not to worry, we’ll see them again soon…