I doubt anyone is really surprised to see the UMD football team in the regional final Saturday. They've been a staple in the Division II playoffs in recent years, and UMD has made four straight Super Region Three finals (wins over Grand Valley State and Augustana, with a loss to Grand Valley in 2009). This is the third straight year that the Super Region Three final will be contested at Malosky Stadium, an amazing accomplishment for a football program that hadn't tasted anything close to this level of success before its first title in 2008.
UMD, though, didn't follow the same path as prior years in getting to this point.
UMD rolled through the 2008 and 2010 championship years with matching 15-0 records. The Bulldogs were rarely challenged in the regular season, and outside of the 2008 road win over top-ranked Grand Valley State, really didn't pull any upsets to win the title. There was adversity in 2010, with injuries to Isaac Odim and Brad Foss and the playoff suspension of leading receiver D.J. Winfield. But UMD overcame it, beating Delta State for the national championship.
That late-season and playoff adversity was a harbinger of things to come for the football program. The 2011 season started well, with a road win over an amped-up Augustana team that was hell-bent on making up for last year's playoff loss in Duluth. The Bulldogs, though, fell to Wayne State (Nebraska) 7-0 in late September, marking their first NSIC loss since they rejoined the league when the North Central Conference died in 2007.
If that wasn't enough, UMD turned in its worst performance in years in losing to St. Cloud State 35-7 in October, marking UMD's first two-loss regular season since Bob Nielson returned as head coach. The Huskies were better than UMD in virtually every area, and the score really wasn't said to be deceiving.
However, the Bulldogs responded to both losses. After the Wayne game, UMD went to Bemidji and beat a good BSU squad. After they fell to St. Cloud State, UMD needed to win its remaining games to qualify for the Division II playoffs. The Bulldogs did that, including a solid win over Minnesota State in the season finale.
In the playoffs, UMD has shown its resiliency, its mental toughness, its mettle, whatever you want to call it. This might not be the most talented team Nielson has taken into the Division II playoffs, but they're tough and experienced, and they know how to win in the postseason.
Against Colorado State-Pueblo Saturday, we saw how tough this UMD team really is. Pueblo scored on its opening drive, then didn't score an offensive touchdown for the remainder of the first half. UMD's defense stiffened throughout the game, holding the potent Thunderwolves to just 224 yards, a season low.
The Bulldogs offense was content to grind things out, wearing down the smaller Pueblo front seven with a punishing ground game. Were it not for an errant snap that gave CSUP a touchdown right before halftime, there's a chance UMD could have won going away. Instead, the Bulldogs had to respond to that late touchdown, and they did on the opening drive of the third quarter, impressively going the length of the field for a go-ahead touchdown.
After a CSUP touchdown drive gave the Thunderwolves a 21-17 lead, UMD had to again respond to adversity. Quarterback Chase Vogler threw an interception in the end zone, giving CSUP the ball back after a long UMD drive that ended up empty. The defense came out -- desperately needing a stop -- and forced a three and out. After an Aaron Roth punt return touchdown was called back by a penalty, Vogler ripped off a 31-yard run that led to Brian Lucas' one-yard score to cap the scoring.
UMD might not be capable of overwhelming opponents, but Todd Strop's defense has developed into a very good group. They shut down MSU in the season finale, made the necessary stops late in the game against Saginaw Valley State, keeping the Cardinals from scoring a game-changing or game-winning touchdown on a couple occasions. But their best performance of the season may have come against Pueblo.
With Wayne State -- not the one from Nebraska, this one is from Michigan -- coming in on Saturday, look for more out of this defense. UMD isn't as potent offensively as in past years, so they're going to need it as the Bulldogs look to grind out three more wins and pick up what could end up being the most improbable of national championships.
It may be improbable to some, but it really shouldn't be surprising. Nielson's teams have been known for their toughness and resiliency through tough times, and this one may be the most impressive in that regard. Come playoff time, there is nothing at all wrong with a team leaning on its toughness and experience to win close games.
In fact, it's often the best way to win.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
BCS Needs Help, Change
I've made no qualms about the fact that the BCS sucks. Hell, I typically refuse to seriously entertain arguments that it's good in any way for college football.
Back in 2006, Michigan and Florida were jousting for the final spot in the BCS title game against unbeaten and top-ranked (and, as it turned out, severely overrated) Ohio State. Michigan had lost its season finale to Ohio State in a nail-biter that came one day after the death of legendary former coach Bo Schembechler.
The Wolverines were still ahead of Florida in the BCS rankings, but Florida beat Arkansas Dec. 2 for the SEC title while Michigan and Ohio State watched TV. No. 2 USC lost to UCLA, shockingly taking itself out of the running.
That, naturally, brought on the politicking that makes the BCS so damn special to college football fans.
Florida got in, largely because a number of voters decided that their win over Arkansas meant they were suddenly better than Michigan.
Now, of course, the lobbying is of a different sort. An Alabama team that is idle this weekend while the SEC, Big 10, and Pac 12 decide conference titles with championship games is expected to play LSU in the BCS title game Jan. 9. That game might actually be played even if LSU stubs its toe against Georgia Saturday.
Seriously.
The games this weekend don't count. At all. They have no bearing on the BCS, which prides itself on telling us how every game counts.
These games don't count, and apparently LSU's win over Alabama Nov. 5 meant nothing, too, because Alabama will get another shot at LSU.
I'm guilty of saying publicly that Alabama is the second-best team in the country, yes. But as Stewart Mandel writes this week, the BCS is choosing Alabama not because it's clearly deserving, or because the world is clamoring for another Alabama-LSU snoozefest.
Instead, the selection is about the past, and not the present. If you look at the case Mandel makes, it's not about the present. Oklahoma State has more wins against top 25 teams, more wins against top 50 teams, and actually (gasp) won its conference. Alabama didn't even win its division, much less its conference.
The system needs help. There is no easy way to determine a second-best team in a world where there is only one viable unbeaten (sorry, Houston). I'm not going to bang the playoff drum, because there's no point. People are either going to scream along with you or scream at you. There is no convincing the insane on this issue. They will continue to believe that every game counts in the BCS, and that there are no major issues with the bowl system.
Go ahead. Rally against facts, and against the truth. It wouldn't be the first time the majority believed in a lie.
Meanwhile, another season has gone by where the powers-that-be have ignored the obvious cash cow that is a college football playoff in favor of an inferior, corrupt, less lucrative bowl system that sucks half the life out of a sport a lot of people would love if only given the chance.
Oh, and we continue to judge teams that play different styles and different schedules by results of games that were played three, four, five, or more years ago.
Of course, this doesn't matter to the BCS. The SEC is king, the league that produces national champions. That voters already spoke loudly about a potential title game rematch five years ago is irrelevant. That, after all, involved the crappy Big 10. This involves the NFL-like SEC. And you know fans will flip their TVs on in droves to see another big SEC game morph into a field goal-kicking contest.
Since it's the BCS, that's all that matters in the end.
Back in 2006, Michigan and Florida were jousting for the final spot in the BCS title game against unbeaten and top-ranked (and, as it turned out, severely overrated) Ohio State. Michigan had lost its season finale to Ohio State in a nail-biter that came one day after the death of legendary former coach Bo Schembechler.
The Wolverines were still ahead of Florida in the BCS rankings, but Florida beat Arkansas Dec. 2 for the SEC title while Michigan and Ohio State watched TV. No. 2 USC lost to UCLA, shockingly taking itself out of the running.
That, naturally, brought on the politicking that makes the BCS so damn special to college football fans.
Remember when Florida was worried Michigan and Ohio State were going to meet in a rematch for the title? Here’s what Urban Meyer said that day:
"We’re going to tell a group of young men who just went 12-1 with the most difficult schedule against six ranked opponents that they don’t have a chance to go play for a national championship?” Florida coach Urban Meyer asked incredulously. “I’m going to need help with that one.”
Here’s then-freshman receiver Percy Harvin:
“Michigan already had its chance. I think we deserve a chance.”
And the best quote came from Florida President Bernie Machen (who is a playoff guy):
“If they don’t vote for us after tonight, we need a new system,” Florida President Bernie Machen said after the game. “We should be packing our bags for Glendale.”
Florida got in, largely because a number of voters decided that their win over Arkansas meant they were suddenly better than Michigan.
Now, of course, the lobbying is of a different sort. An Alabama team that is idle this weekend while the SEC, Big 10, and Pac 12 decide conference titles with championship games is expected to play LSU in the BCS title game Jan. 9. That game might actually be played even if LSU stubs its toe against Georgia Saturday.
Seriously.
The games this weekend don't count. At all. They have no bearing on the BCS, which prides itself on telling us how every game counts.
These games don't count, and apparently LSU's win over Alabama Nov. 5 meant nothing, too, because Alabama will get another shot at LSU.
I'm guilty of saying publicly that Alabama is the second-best team in the country, yes. But as Stewart Mandel writes this week, the BCS is choosing Alabama not because it's clearly deserving, or because the world is clamoring for another Alabama-LSU snoozefest.
Instead, the selection is about the past, and not the present. If you look at the case Mandel makes, it's not about the present. Oklahoma State has more wins against top 25 teams, more wins against top 50 teams, and actually (gasp) won its conference. Alabama didn't even win its division, much less its conference.
The system needs help. There is no easy way to determine a second-best team in a world where there is only one viable unbeaten (sorry, Houston). I'm not going to bang the playoff drum, because there's no point. People are either going to scream along with you or scream at you. There is no convincing the insane on this issue. They will continue to believe that every game counts in the BCS, and that there are no major issues with the bowl system.
Go ahead. Rally against facts, and against the truth. It wouldn't be the first time the majority believed in a lie.
Meanwhile, another season has gone by where the powers-that-be have ignored the obvious cash cow that is a college football playoff in favor of an inferior, corrupt, less lucrative bowl system that sucks half the life out of a sport a lot of people would love if only given the chance.
Oh, and we continue to judge teams that play different styles and different schedules by results of games that were played three, four, five, or more years ago.
Of course, this doesn't matter to the BCS. The SEC is king, the league that produces national champions. That voters already spoke loudly about a potential title game rematch five years ago is irrelevant. That, after all, involved the crappy Big 10. This involves the NFL-like SEC. And you know fans will flip their TVs on in droves to see another big SEC game morph into a field goal-kicking contest.
Since it's the BCS, that's all that matters in the end.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: Enjoying the Holiday
This has been fun, I have to admit. I haven't even logged into the computer since early Thursday, and that was to look at Black Friday ads.
It's always good to get away, even if it's only for a couple days, and even if you don't necessarily go anywhere. We're hockey fans here, and I have a greater appreciation for the sport virtually every day I cover it.
But down time is a must, even if you don't do much to begin with.
Anyway, I don't have much for you this week. Didn't watch much of the televised games on Friday, which included Minnesota falling 4-3 at Michigan State, Denver shutting out Princeton 3-0, and North Dakota winning a goaltenders' duel over Colorado College, 7-6.
(All of a sudden, UMD is ahead of the mighty Gophers in the Pairwise. Hmm ... )
I will say that North Dakota looked rock-solid Friday in the third period. I thought they got away with some stick fouls while trying to hold off the Tigers late, but Brad Eidsness did a great job in relief of Aaron Dell, and UND found a way to get two points it really, really needed against a very good team.
There are concerns with this Fighting Sioux team. For starters, the team save percentage is .880, which is beyond bad and bordering on garish. Starter Dell has a save percentage of .875, which is 30 points below his career total, and 49 under his number (.924) from last season.
Defensively, this team is nowhere near where it needs to be. I know you know about Dave Hakstol's reputation as coach, so I won't bore you with it again. We know it's expected to improve. And it probably will improve. But it hasn't yet.
Seven goals against CC, though, is nothing to sneeze at. Perhaps the start of UND's annual surge to the top.
Friday's other WCHA game saw Alaska-Anchorage beat Minnesota State 5-4. In non-conference play, St. Lawrence beat Michigan Tech 3-2, and Wisconsin eased past Mercyhurst, 7-2. St. Cloud State and Nebraska-Omaha are playing a Saturday/Sunday series in Omaha.
It's always good to get away, even if it's only for a couple days, and even if you don't necessarily go anywhere. We're hockey fans here, and I have a greater appreciation for the sport virtually every day I cover it.
But down time is a must, even if you don't do much to begin with.
Anyway, I don't have much for you this week. Didn't watch much of the televised games on Friday, which included Minnesota falling 4-3 at Michigan State, Denver shutting out Princeton 3-0, and North Dakota winning a goaltenders' duel over Colorado College, 7-6.
(All of a sudden, UMD is ahead of the mighty Gophers in the Pairwise. Hmm ... )
I will say that North Dakota looked rock-solid Friday in the third period. I thought they got away with some stick fouls while trying to hold off the Tigers late, but Brad Eidsness did a great job in relief of Aaron Dell, and UND found a way to get two points it really, really needed against a very good team.
There are concerns with this Fighting Sioux team. For starters, the team save percentage is .880, which is beyond bad and bordering on garish. Starter Dell has a save percentage of .875, which is 30 points below his career total, and 49 under his number (.924) from last season.
Defensively, this team is nowhere near where it needs to be. I know you know about Dave Hakstol's reputation as coach, so I won't bore you with it again. We know it's expected to improve. And it probably will improve. But it hasn't yet.
Seven goals against CC, though, is nothing to sneeze at. Perhaps the start of UND's annual surge to the top.
******
Friday's other WCHA game saw Alaska-Anchorage beat Minnesota State 5-4. In non-conference play, St. Lawrence beat Michigan Tech 3-2, and Wisconsin eased past Mercyhurst, 7-2. St. Cloud State and Nebraska-Omaha are playing a Saturday/Sunday series in Omaha.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Sidney Crosby Return Lives Up To Hype
If the media had things the way the media would probably have wanted it, this wouldn't have played out the way it did.
Some 29 hours before the opening faceoff of Monday's Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Islanders game in Pittsburgh, the Penguins announced that captain/superstar/hockey lightning rod Sidney Crosby would be returning. Crosby was scheduled to play in a game for the first time since early January, when his MVP season was cut short by a concussion that wouldn't go away (presumptuous, maybe, but Sid had 32 goals and 66 points in 41 games, so saying he was on track for the MVP is probably quite the understatement).
Versus scuttled plans to televise Boston-Montreal (boring!). CBC scuttled plans to televise whatever CBC usually televises on Monday nights. They scrambled to get their broadcasters to Pittsburgh for the game, Versus sending Dave Strader and Pierre McGuire, while CBC went with the "A" team of Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson.
No one knew what to expect. Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma talked of Sid playing 12 minutes. He was going to play between Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz, his linemates last season. But would he have to kick off the rust, or would he quickly return to his old self?
The answer was quick. And it was as emphatic as it was quick.
It took all of 2:20 of ice time for Sidney Crosby to light the lamp.
Before the game, NHL Network's E.J. Hradek boldly predicted Sid would have three points. I was watching, and I wasn't so sure. After all, he wasn't going to have his normal ice time. He hadn't done anything at game speed since January.
The comeback from concussions eventually turns into a mental game. What would happen when Crosby was on the verge of getting hit. What would happen when he got hit hard? Would he shake it off and keep playing, or would there be doubts and questions about whether or not he was okay?
No worries. He took hits. He gave hits. He kept going, and he kept dazzling the home crowd in Pittsburgh.
It was a great show, even from the couch. Crosby did everything that made him the best player in the world before he was hurt. He has speed unlike virtually anyone else. His vision and smarts are second to none, too. But what makes Crosby great is that competitive drive, and it doesn't look like he's lost one bit of that drive.
From Bruce Arthur of The National Post:
It was an incredible night for the sport, one that brought it plenty of attention it wouldn't normally get.
At the tail-end of November, that's hardly a bad thing.
Some 29 hours before the opening faceoff of Monday's Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Islanders game in Pittsburgh, the Penguins announced that captain/superstar/hockey lightning rod Sidney Crosby would be returning. Crosby was scheduled to play in a game for the first time since early January, when his MVP season was cut short by a concussion that wouldn't go away (presumptuous, maybe, but Sid had 32 goals and 66 points in 41 games, so saying he was on track for the MVP is probably quite the understatement).
Versus scuttled plans to televise Boston-Montreal (boring!). CBC scuttled plans to televise whatever CBC usually televises on Monday nights. They scrambled to get their broadcasters to Pittsburgh for the game, Versus sending Dave Strader and Pierre McGuire, while CBC went with the "A" team of Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson.
No one knew what to expect. Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma talked of Sid playing 12 minutes. He was going to play between Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz, his linemates last season. But would he have to kick off the rust, or would he quickly return to his old self?
The answer was quick. And it was as emphatic as it was quick.
It took all of 2:20 of ice time for Sidney Crosby to light the lamp.
Before the game, NHL Network's E.J. Hradek boldly predicted Sid would have three points. I was watching, and I wasn't so sure. After all, he wasn't going to have his normal ice time. He hadn't done anything at game speed since January.
The comeback from concussions eventually turns into a mental game. What would happen when Crosby was on the verge of getting hit. What would happen when he got hit hard? Would he shake it off and keep playing, or would there be doubts and questions about whether or not he was okay?
No worries. He took hits. He gave hits. He kept going, and he kept dazzling the home crowd in Pittsburgh.
It was a great show, even from the couch. Crosby did everything that made him the best player in the world before he was hurt. He has speed unlike virtually anyone else. His vision and smarts are second to none, too. But what makes Crosby great is that competitive drive, and it doesn't look like he's lost one bit of that drive.
From Bruce Arthur of The National Post:
And Crosby, once again, was able to soar to the occasion. A little over five minutes into his second hockey life, on his third shift, Crosby gathered a puck at speed in the neutral zone, raced right around defenceman Andrew MacDonald, and sliced a backhand over the glove hand of rookie goaltender Anders Nilsson. The clock froze at 5:24 and Crosby turned in the corner, flexed his arms, roared “F— yeah!” along with the crowd, turning the air a little blue.
He would add an assist on a Brooks Orpik one-timer that made it 2-0, and would pick up a secondary assist on the power-play goal by Evgeni Malkin that made it 3-0. He would win a puck battle, create space, and send a knuckling backhand that deflected off the leg of Islanders defenceman Steve Staios for the game’s final goal. Four points, and he could have had more — twice he set up teammates who hit the post. He kept displaying his old terrifying speed, his drive, his relentlessness. Like old times.
“The first draw — it’s a faceoff and he battles like it’s the last draw of the season,” said Penguins coach Dan Bylsma.
“I felt like I was waiting forever,” said Crosby, who played just 15:54. “And I kind of was, in a way. I’ll have a great memory of this one for a lot of different reasons.”
Sure, the Islanders looked like a team that was a ladder and a bucket of confetti away from playing the Harlem Globetrotters. But it’s easy to forget that as recently as Sept. 7, Crosby didn’t absolutely rule out the possibility of retirement.
It was an incredible night for the sport, one that brought it plenty of attention it wouldn't normally get.
At the tail-end of November, that's hardly a bad thing.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Video: Aaron Crandall Does Something Called 'The Bernie'
During timeouts at Amsoil Arena, there are often things put on the Jumbotron meant to engage the fans and get them involved.
Fans are encouraged to kiss each other, dance, and on Saturday, they were implored to do something called "The Bernie."
Thanks to therecent 1980s classic movie "Weekend at Bernie's," we have a dance craze on our hands.
Just ask UMD sophomore goalie Aaron Crandall.
That might have been the loudest the crowd was all night after UMD scored four goals in :96 on its way to a 7-3 win.
Fans are encouraged to kiss each other, dance, and on Saturday, they were implored to do something called "The Bernie."
Thanks to the
Just ask UMD sophomore goalie Aaron Crandall.
That might have been the loudest the crowd was all night after UMD scored four goals in :96 on its way to a 7-3 win.
BlogPoll Ballot
Woo!
Nothing at all against anyone else, but come on. I might be stubborn, but a loss doesn't make me any less of a believer in Oklahoma State's ability to beat anyone ranked below them on this list.
Not only that, but how funny is it going to be when Auburn beats Alabama, leading to Oklahoma State getting a title shot after Arkansas gets pantsed by LSU?
Gotta love BCS chaos. Not that it ever does any good besides producing a chuckle or three.
The Ciskie Blog Ballot - Week 13
| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LSU Tigers | -- |
| 2 | Alabama Crimson Tide | -- |
| 3 | Oklahoma St. Cowboys | -- |
| 4 | Arkansas Razorbacks |  1 |
| 5 | Boise St. Broncos | 5 |
| 6 | Oregon Ducks |  -2 |
| 7 | Stanford Cardinal | -- |
| 8 | Virginia Tech Hokies | 1 |
| 9 | Oklahoma Sooners | -3 |
| 10 | Houston Cougars | 1 |
| 11 | Georgia Bulldogs | 1 |
| 12 | South Carolina Gamecocks | 1 |
| 13 | Michigan St. Spartans | 2 |
| 14 | Clemson Tigers | -6 |
| 15 | USC Trojans | -- |
| 16 | TCU Horned Frogs | -- |
| 17 | Wisconsin Badgers | -- |
| 18 | Penn St. Nittany Lions | -- |
| 19 | Kansas St. Wildcats | -- |
| 20 | Michigan Wolverines | -- |
| 21 | Baylor Bears | 4 |
| 22 | West Virginia Mountaineers | -- |
| 23 | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | -- |
| 24 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | -- |
| 25 | Arkansas St. Red Wolves | -- |
| Dropouts: Nebraska Cornhuskers, Southern Miss. Golden Eagles, Florida St. Seminoles | ||
SB Nation BlogPoll College Football Top 25 Rankings »
Nothing at all against anyone else, but come on. I might be stubborn, but a loss doesn't make me any less of a believer in Oklahoma State's ability to beat anyone ranked below them on this list.
Not only that, but how funny is it going to be when Auburn beats Alabama, leading to Oklahoma State getting a title shot after Arkansas gets pantsed by LSU?
Gotta love BCS chaos. Not that it ever does any good besides producing a chuckle or three.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Game 14: Minnesota State at UMD
Let's make it ten, shall we?
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Connolly - Basaraba
Herbert - Oleksuk - Brown
Crandall (Justin) - Hendrickson - Grun
Krause - Tardy - Flaherty
Bergman - Lamb
Kishel - Casto
Olson - McManus
Reiter - Crandall (Aaron) - Gaffy
MSU
Mueller - Zuck - Dorr
Burkemper - Lehrke - Hayes
Lafontaine - Leitner - Gaede
McInnis - Jokinen - Leivermann
Louwerse - Schiller
Palmquist - Mosey
Nelson - Knoll
Cook - Lee
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Connolly - Basaraba
Herbert - Oleksuk - Brown
Crandall (Justin) - Hendrickson - Grun
Krause - Tardy - Flaherty
Bergman - Lamb
Kishel - Casto
Olson - McManus
Reiter - Crandall (Aaron) - Gaffy
MSU
Mueller - Zuck - Dorr
Burkemper - Lehrke - Hayes
Lafontaine - Leitner - Gaede
McInnis - Jokinen - Leivermann
Louwerse - Schiller
Palmquist - Mosey
Nelson - Knoll
Cook - Lee
Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: Lining Up For Seconds
Yeah, it's cheesy. I don't care.
UMD ran its unbeaten streak to nine with a 5-2 win over Minnesota State Friday at Amsoil Arena. It was a game that featured a little bit of everything, including an absolutely unstoppable second line for UMD.
Two weeks ago, coach Scott Sandelin put Travis Oleksuk at center after a few games as a left wing on Jack Connolly's top line. Sandelin reunited Oleksuk with his right wing from virtually all of last season, J.T. Brown, and he put freshman Caleb Herbert at left wing on that line.
While Jack Connolly has enjoyed a bit of a surge as of late with Mike Seidel and Joe Basaraba, that second line has been forgotten about to an extent.
Until Friday.
Oleksuk's line struck four times Friday night, with Herbert scoring twice, and Brown and Oleksuk each tallying once.
Simply put, it was a matchup nightmare for Minnesota State, one that Troy Jutting couldn't escape until the clock had run out to end the game. For much of the night, his experienced line of Eli Zuck, Adam Mueller, and Michael Dorr was matched up against Oleksuk's line, and they just couldn't do very much. Mueller scored a late goal to make it a 5-2 game, but the three were a garish minus-nine combined. They would have been minus-12 if Mueller hadn't picked up that relatively meaningless goal.
Herbert scored the game's first goal off a really nice snipe from the left circle, a low shot to beat MSU goalie Austin Lee. Brown made it 2-0 in the second period with a great move around Lee and a backhanded shot into an empty net. Herbert scored off a defenseman late in the second period to make it 3-0. Oleksuk capped UMD's side of the scoring in the third.
The three combined for four goals, seven points, and a plus-11 for the game.
It was a tremdendous effort for UMD, one that looked perilous in the first period, when MSU outshot the home team 21-9. Taking away power play chances, the Mavericks outshot UMD 12-1 even strength. UMD made some adjustments and played much better defensively the rest of the game, outshooting MSU 25-15 in the last 40 minutes.
Efforts like that from Oleksuk's line are always great for UMD, because it creates more opportunities down the line for Connolly's line. In the case of Friday, it created a matchup nightmare for Minnesota State, and we'll see if Jutting can find a counter to it in Saturday's game.
UMD is one point back of the Gophers in the WCHA after Minnesota fell 4-3 to St. Cloud State Friday night. Kent Patterson gave up four goals on 13 shots over the first two periods, but was out-dueled by Ryan Faragher, who stopped 40 Minnesota shots.
Denver bested Nebraska-Omaha 7-3, scoring all their goals over the first two periods. Also in the Mountain time zone, Colorado College got by Wisconsin 4-2 in Colorado Springs.
In Anchorage, Alaska-Anchorage got its first WCHA win, beating Michigan Tech 3-1. The Huskies have played three road games this season and lost them all, while the Seawolves won for the first time since going 3-0-1 at tournaments in Anchorage and Fairbanks to start the season.
Congratulations to UMD coach Scott Sandelin, who picked up his 200th career win Friday night. It's not all about him, and he'd be the first to tell you that. But it's a significant accomplishment, and well worth mentioning.
Also, UMD has signed five players to letters of intent, all of whom are playing in the USHL. Forwards Tony Camaranesi, Cal Dekowski, and Austyn Young have signed, along with defensemen Willie Corrin and Andy Welinski.
All five players hail from Minnesota, with the forwards all from the Twin Cities area, Corrin from International Falls, and Welinski from Duluth.
UMD ran its unbeaten streak to nine with a 5-2 win over Minnesota State Friday at Amsoil Arena. It was a game that featured a little bit of everything, including an absolutely unstoppable second line for UMD.
Two weeks ago, coach Scott Sandelin put Travis Oleksuk at center after a few games as a left wing on Jack Connolly's top line. Sandelin reunited Oleksuk with his right wing from virtually all of last season, J.T. Brown, and he put freshman Caleb Herbert at left wing on that line.
While Jack Connolly has enjoyed a bit of a surge as of late with Mike Seidel and Joe Basaraba, that second line has been forgotten about to an extent.
Until Friday.
Oleksuk's line struck four times Friday night, with Herbert scoring twice, and Brown and Oleksuk each tallying once.
Simply put, it was a matchup nightmare for Minnesota State, one that Troy Jutting couldn't escape until the clock had run out to end the game. For much of the night, his experienced line of Eli Zuck, Adam Mueller, and Michael Dorr was matched up against Oleksuk's line, and they just couldn't do very much. Mueller scored a late goal to make it a 5-2 game, but the three were a garish minus-nine combined. They would have been minus-12 if Mueller hadn't picked up that relatively meaningless goal.
Herbert scored the game's first goal off a really nice snipe from the left circle, a low shot to beat MSU goalie Austin Lee. Brown made it 2-0 in the second period with a great move around Lee and a backhanded shot into an empty net. Herbert scored off a defenseman late in the second period to make it 3-0. Oleksuk capped UMD's side of the scoring in the third.
The three combined for four goals, seven points, and a plus-11 for the game.
It was a tremdendous effort for UMD, one that looked perilous in the first period, when MSU outshot the home team 21-9. Taking away power play chances, the Mavericks outshot UMD 12-1 even strength. UMD made some adjustments and played much better defensively the rest of the game, outshooting MSU 25-15 in the last 40 minutes.
Efforts like that from Oleksuk's line are always great for UMD, because it creates more opportunities down the line for Connolly's line. In the case of Friday, it created a matchup nightmare for Minnesota State, and we'll see if Jutting can find a counter to it in Saturday's game.
******
UMD is one point back of the Gophers in the WCHA after Minnesota fell 4-3 to St. Cloud State Friday night. Kent Patterson gave up four goals on 13 shots over the first two periods, but was out-dueled by Ryan Faragher, who stopped 40 Minnesota shots.
Denver bested Nebraska-Omaha 7-3, scoring all their goals over the first two periods. Also in the Mountain time zone, Colorado College got by Wisconsin 4-2 in Colorado Springs.
In Anchorage, Alaska-Anchorage got its first WCHA win, beating Michigan Tech 3-1. The Huskies have played three road games this season and lost them all, while the Seawolves won for the first time since going 3-0-1 at tournaments in Anchorage and Fairbanks to start the season.
******
Congratulations to UMD coach Scott Sandelin, who picked up his 200th career win Friday night. It's not all about him, and he'd be the first to tell you that. But it's a significant accomplishment, and well worth mentioning.
******
Also, UMD has signed five players to letters of intent, all of whom are playing in the USHL. Forwards Tony Camaranesi, Cal Dekowski, and Austyn Young have signed, along with defensemen Willie Corrin and Andy Welinski.
All five players hail from Minnesota, with the forwards all from the Twin Cities area, Corrin from International Falls, and Welinski from Duluth.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Game 13: Minnesota State at UMD
Hopefully everyone drove carefully. Slick on the side streets with snow falling that wasn't exactly in the forecast. At least not for Friday.
Minnesota State is in town, hoping to end a six-game winless streak in Duluth by succeeding in its first game inside Amsoil Arena.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Connolly - Basaraba
Herbert - Oleksuk - Brown
Crandall (Justin) - Hendrickson - Grun
DeLisle - Tardy - Flaherty
Bergman - Lamb
Kishel - Casto
Olson - Johnson
Reiter - Crandall (Aaron) - Gaffy
MSU
Mueller - Zuck - Dorr
Burkemper - Lehrke - Hayes
Lafontaine - Leitner - Gaede
McInnis - Jokinen - Leivermann
Louwerse - Schiller
Palmquist - Mosey
Nelson - Knoll
Lee - Cook
Minnesota State is in town, hoping to end a six-game winless streak in Duluth by succeeding in its first game inside Amsoil Arena.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Connolly - Basaraba
Herbert - Oleksuk - Brown
Crandall (Justin) - Hendrickson - Grun
DeLisle - Tardy - Flaherty
Bergman - Lamb
Kishel - Casto
Olson - Johnson
Reiter - Crandall (Aaron) - Gaffy
MSU
Mueller - Zuck - Dorr
Burkemper - Lehrke - Hayes
Lafontaine - Leitner - Gaede
McInnis - Jokinen - Leivermann
Louwerse - Schiller
Palmquist - Mosey
Nelson - Knoll
Lee - Cook
UMD Ready For Odyssey
UMD has only had two road trips so far this season. The Bulldogs will get to spend a lot of time on buses coming up in the next two months.
This weekend, UMD hosts Minnesota State at Amsoil Arena. Once we hope to hear "Holiday Road" after a UMD win and (again, hopefully) get a stick salute Saturday, it will be the last time Amsoil Arena's lights come on for a UMD men's home game until January.
Late January.
It will be eight weeks before the Bulldogs host Alabama-Huntsville Jan. 20-21.
Over those eight weeks, the Bulldogs will play four road series and have four weekends (next weekend, and then three weekends for Christmas break) off.
It's a lot of bus travel, with one plane trip (Western Michigan), and a lot of team bonding.
As for the 14-game run to start the season, so far it's gone pretty well. UMD is 7-3-2 on the season, and the Bulldogs are unbeaten in eight heading into this series against the Mavericks.
While Minnesota State certainly presents some challenges, there's no question UMD is favored to win. So far, UMD has played that role well, sweeping Bemidji State and Alaska-Anchorage for eight huge points on home ice, and UMD also got a win and a tie at Providence, which still stands as the Friars' only blemishes at home (6-1-1 at Schneider Arena).
It's tough to get a read on this MSU team. The Mavericks have dealt with a rash of injuries, and they're clearly a tough-minded, gutty team, because after a 10-2 blowout loss at Denver in which the Mavs only had 14 healthy skaters at the end, things have started to turn around.
MSU got a win at Michigan Tech -- the Huskies' only home loss so far -- and also beat St. Cloud State at home last weekend.
Freshman JP Lafontaine (uncle Pat might be somewhat familiar to hockey fans) is their leading scorer, and he's not the typical big, bruising, Backes-like power forward MSU has sported in the past. Instead, Lafontaine is more like his uncle, a guy who could fly on a pair of skates. This kid can go, and his skating ability will challenge UMD's defense this weekend.
Guys like Zach Lehrke, Michael Dorr, and Adam Mueller are smaller guys who can move and make plays. They will challenge UMD, but the Bulldogs should be up to the test.
The defense has played well for the most part, limiting scoring chances and protecting the front of the net very well. When they have broken down, Kenny Reiter (1.23 goals against, .955 saves over eight starts) has been more than good lately.
To run the unbeaten streak to ten, UMD needs to keep building off the good things they've been doing. Jack Connolly has been very good lately, and the Bulldogs' third line (Hendrickson centering Crandall and Grun) continues to set a great example for the rest of the team with its work ethic and ability to create turnovers off the forecheck.
Enjoy the games this weekend. Unless you have satellite TV, a really good cable package, and/or are willing to fork over for online coverage, you're stuck with me for the next eight games.
This weekend, UMD hosts Minnesota State at Amsoil Arena. Once we hope to hear "Holiday Road" after a UMD win and (again, hopefully) get a stick salute Saturday, it will be the last time Amsoil Arena's lights come on for a UMD men's home game until January.
Late January.
It will be eight weeks before the Bulldogs host Alabama-Huntsville Jan. 20-21.
Over those eight weeks, the Bulldogs will play four road series and have four weekends (next weekend, and then three weekends for Christmas break) off.
It's a lot of bus travel, with one plane trip (Western Michigan), and a lot of team bonding.
As for the 14-game run to start the season, so far it's gone pretty well. UMD is 7-3-2 on the season, and the Bulldogs are unbeaten in eight heading into this series against the Mavericks.
While Minnesota State certainly presents some challenges, there's no question UMD is favored to win. So far, UMD has played that role well, sweeping Bemidji State and Alaska-Anchorage for eight huge points on home ice, and UMD also got a win and a tie at Providence, which still stands as the Friars' only blemishes at home (6-1-1 at Schneider Arena).
It's tough to get a read on this MSU team. The Mavericks have dealt with a rash of injuries, and they're clearly a tough-minded, gutty team, because after a 10-2 blowout loss at Denver in which the Mavs only had 14 healthy skaters at the end, things have started to turn around.
MSU got a win at Michigan Tech -- the Huskies' only home loss so far -- and also beat St. Cloud State at home last weekend.
Freshman JP Lafontaine (uncle Pat might be somewhat familiar to hockey fans) is their leading scorer, and he's not the typical big, bruising, Backes-like power forward MSU has sported in the past. Instead, Lafontaine is more like his uncle, a guy who could fly on a pair of skates. This kid can go, and his skating ability will challenge UMD's defense this weekend.
Guys like Zach Lehrke, Michael Dorr, and Adam Mueller are smaller guys who can move and make plays. They will challenge UMD, but the Bulldogs should be up to the test.
The defense has played well for the most part, limiting scoring chances and protecting the front of the net very well. When they have broken down, Kenny Reiter (1.23 goals against, .955 saves over eight starts) has been more than good lately.
To run the unbeaten streak to ten, UMD needs to keep building off the good things they've been doing. Jack Connolly has been very good lately, and the Bulldogs' third line (Hendrickson centering Crandall and Grun) continues to set a great example for the rest of the team with its work ethic and ability to create turnovers off the forecheck.
Enjoy the games this weekend. Unless you have satellite TV, a really good cable package, and/or are willing to fork over for online coverage, you're stuck with me for the next eight games.
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