Monday Musings: Bulldogs Dominate Everywhere But Scoreboard, Season Over

Buzz. Kill.

That's the best I can do to describe the sensation as Western Michigan scored two third-period goals Saturday to beat UMD 4-3 and end the Bulldogs' season.

In all honesty, one weekend of hockey pretty accurately summed up UMD's entire 16-16-4 season. On Friday, UMD outshot and outchanced Western Michigan, but gave up a power-play goal off a faceoff win and ended up never drawing even again from that point, despite a furious rally.

Saturday, the Bulldogs jumped to a 2-0 lead, dominated long stretches of play (specifically, puck possession, scoring chances, shots on goal, and shot attempts), ended up outshooting WMU 37-11, and lost 4-3.

It might have been an extreme example -- and it certainly was a poorly-timed one -- but it painted a perfect picture of UMD's season-long home-ice struggles.

That 5-10-3 Amsoil Arena record was not something head coach Scott Sandelin ever really wanted to talk about, but you have to know it ate at the UMD players and coaches. It's just not something you can flip a switch and solve, and it affected the team's postseason chances. 11-6-1 is a fine record away from home. Even if this team goes 8-7-3 at home, it's probably sitting in at least a bubble spot now, even with the WMU series loss.

UMD was outscored 2-0 on special teams Friday, and 3-0 on the weekend. The Bulldog power play was very good, especially on Saturday, but in that game, they couldn't beat Frank Slubowski. While the power play was inconsistent in terms of its execution, the one consistency was the lack of scoring punch from that unit.

UMD scored 41 power play goals and was an impressive 23.4 percent on the season in 2012-13. This season, the Bulldogs scored 26 power play goals and went just 15.8 percent on the power play, its worst percentage since the 2007-2008 Season of No Goals (11.5). It was a combination of inexperience all over the ice, shuffling the high forwards a few times, and occasionally not getting enough pucks or bodies to the net. The inexperience showed itself on occasion against good and aggressive kills like Denver and UNO.

But let's digest the numbers a bit when it comes to the UMD offense.

In 2012-13, UMD scored 99 goals in 38 games, an average of 2.61 per game. Special teams accounted for 42 of those 99 goals (41 PPG and one short-handed), leaving UMD with just 57 even-strength goals, an average of 1.5 per game. UMD was outscored 76-57 at even-strength, an eye-popping minus-19 differential.

In 2013-14, UMD scored 104 goals in 36 games, an average of 2.89 per game. Special teams accounted for 30 of those 104 goals (26 PPG and four short-handed), leaving UMD with 74 even-strength goals, an average of 2.06 per game. UMD outscored opponents 74-66 even-strength. The plus-eight differential was 27 goals better than last year!

(Honestly, this math leads to the conclusion that UMD absolutely should have experienced more than a two-win improvement over last season.)

Before the season, Sandelin and others talked about the need for improved goaltending. Last year, UMD posted a team save percentage of .896. Despite some positives scattered throughout the season, UMD's team save percentage ended up at -- you guessed it -- .896 this year. Counting conference games only, it actually dipped from .898 in the WCHA last year to .891 in the NCHC in 2013-14.

It's not about blame. There are five guys in front of the goalie, and before the goalie can fail to stop the puck that goes into the net, those five guys may all have made mistakes. Hockey is a game of mistakes. Pinning blame on one player out of six on the ice is just farcical.

Especially when that player, Aaron Crandall, saved this team's bacon so many times. 90 saves on 93 shots against UNO. 30-save shutout of hard-charging Miami in a great pitchers' goalies' duel. The win at Western Michigan where WMU scored first and had two five-on-threes in the first 30 minutes of the game.

Want me to go on?

Four goals on 11 shots doesn't look like great goaltending. And he's certainly played better. But be fair. You didn't think Crandall would do what he did in the second half of the season. And if he hadn't done that, we wouldn't have won 16 games or earned home ice in the NCHC quarterfinals.

Not Crandall's fault that the team took a bunch of dumb penalties throughout the season, including some horribly-timed ones.

(UMD completely dominated the first period Saturday, yet only had one power play to WMU's three when the horn sounded. Because of that, it was only 2-1 UMD after one instead of maybe 3-0 or 4-0, which would have been more fitting of how the 20 minutes were played. The penalties were avoidable. Two of them came in the offensive zone, which happened too much this season.)

In the end, there are a few different reasons UMD didn't win more, and why the season has come to a seemingly premature end. It isn't all on one guy, and it isn't all on one part of the team. Next year's group will have more experience, and therefore will have more leadership (remember, leadership isn't just about the captain and assistant captains). And there will be a lot of pressure on Matt McNeely and newcomer Kasimir Kaskisuo to improve the team's goaltending.

A few more quick thoughts on the season's end:

• If money had to be placed on an early departure, it would be bet on Caleb Herbert signing with the Washington Capitals. 32 goals and 89 points in three years is nice, but Herbert could improve his game in college. I'm not sure I'd say he's ready, but it isn't my call. I don't think anyone else leaves early.
• If Herbert leaves, look for a 2015 forward to come in one year earlier than previously planned.
• Look for a 2015 defenseman to fill the 2014 recruiting class, a move brought on by the retirement of Luke McManus.
• UMD's blue line could be stacked next season. Andy Welinski, Carson Soucy, Derik Johnson, Willie Raskob, Dan Molenaar, and Willie Corrin all have eligibility remaining. Add St. Scholastica transfer Brenden Kotyk, whom I was told would absolutely have been in the mix this season if NCAA rules didn't prohibit him from doing so as a transfer, and you have an impressive group.
• Molenaar is going to be a stud. So is Raskob. Love the young guys in this group. Kotyk brings some serious size, and Johnson will block any shot and hit any player.
• Doesn't hurt to have the three components of the top line all returning. Tony Cameranesi played really well, no matter what the numbers tell you. Led the team in shots on goal, and probably deserved double the total of seven he had on the season. Kyle Osterberg had a great year, as did Justin Crandall. This group came on very nicely over the last month.
• If Herbert leaves, we need a second-line center. Hello, Cal Decowski.
• Dominic Toninato, Alex Iafallo, and Adam Krause could make a great shutdown line again next season. I'd like to see them get more offensively, because their puck possession and work ethic justify it. Modestly increase their total of 25 goals between them, and watch the team's overall numbers improve even more as a result.

Another fun year. It's always fun to get to know guys. Lots of fun times and unique memories with every season. Thanks to the UMD staff -- Scott Sandelin, Jason Herter, Derek Plante, Christian Koelling, Josh Berlo (who is doing a fantastic job as AD, by the way, and I'm sure the best is yet to come in that regard), Bob Nygaard, Suz Hoppe, Chris Garner, Hogie, and countless others -- for the constant accommodations at home and on the road. Thanks also to the players for being such good kids and such a joy to be around during the week and during road trips.

We'll keep you up to date on news as it happens during the offseason. In the meantime, prepare for mindless rambling about things other than UMD hockey.

Enjoy the summer, if the snow ever goes away.

Game 36: Western Michigan at UMD (NCHC First Round Game 2 - WMU Leads 1-0)

This could very well be it.

Facing elimination on home ice, there isn't much that can comfort UMD about Friday's 3-2 loss. The Bulldogs have to crank up the intensity from the opening bell, as Western Michigan proved very difficult to solve defensively, especially once having taken the lead.

Every facet of the Bulldogs' game has to be sharp. Net-front presence is a must. There are little battles you can watch in this game in front of the Western Michigan net. If UMD is losing battles for position and for loose pucks, it's a bad sign.

All four lines contributed good shifts and scoring chances Friday. However, all four can play better. Dominic Toninato won a lot of draws, and his line had a ton of zone time, but they didn't win many battles in front of the net, something that cut back a bit on scoring chances.

A sleepy second period was ignited by a great shift from the fourth line, led by Cal Decowski and Max Tardy, who were wonderful on Friday and ended up scoring UMD's only goals in the game's final 90 seconds. I'm not exaggerating by saying it might have been Tardy's best game in these colors.

(Perhaps a coincidence, but Western Michigan coach Andy Murray went out of his way to praise Tardy when I spoke to him this week. "He's had a good influence on them. I think he brings that senior leadership to their lineup.")

Bottom line: UMD hit three pipes and was somewhat unlucky against Lukas Hafner throughout the evening. But more bad luck will only lead to the end of the season, so there is no time to lament it now. Instead, the onus is on the Bulldogs to play a stronger, harder game, get to Hafner, and break down this solid WMU defense.

I don't have anything planned Sunday night. Might as well come back here one more time.

Make it so, boys.

Lines?

Lines.

UMD
Osterberg - Cameranesi - Crandall (Justin)
Farley - Herbert - Basaraba
Iafallo - Toninato - Krause
Tardy - Decowski - Spurrell

Soucy - Welinski
Johnson - Raskob
Smith - Molenaar

Crandall (Aaron) - McNeely - Fons

WMU
Dries - Kessel - Cichy
McKee - Mellor - Hadley
Berschbach - Balisy - Kovacs
Hargrove - Pitt - LaPorte

Nitsche - Morrison
Dienes - Fleming
Oesterle - Brown

Slubowski - Bloomberg - Hafner

(Note: Hafner is starting. WMU lists goalies in numerical order.)

Game 35: Western Michigan at UMD (NCHC First Round Game 1)

Win or go home.

That's playoff hockey to me, and that's what faces both these teams here this weekend.

Without the automatic bid, Western Michigan is not going to the NCAA Tournament. Without the automatic bid, UMD is likely not going, though Lloyd Christmas would be thrilled to know the Bulldogs still do have a shot without it. That minute opportunity revolves around winning this weekend and probably again next Friday in the NCHC semifinals.

For those who think this team is better off on the road, I'm told Western Michigan's travel plans weren't set in stone until Wednesday. They flew from Detroit (a couple hours from Kalamazoo) to Minneapolis and took a bus to Duluth. That might have been a normal trip to Duluth for them, but it's hard to claim creature comforts and routine on the road when you don't know all your details until the day before the trip.

Traveling this time of year -- on short notice -- can be a major pain. Athletes crave routine, even on the road, and it's hard to get that with this kind of travel.

And, no, I'm not going to change my tune if UMD loses this weekend. I don't care if 1,500 people show up for the games. The Bulldogs need to establish a presence and an attitude in this building. No better time than now.

Lines?

Lines.

UMD
Osterberg - Cameranesi - Crandall (Justin)
Farley - Herbert - Basaraba
Iafallo - Toninato - Krause
Tardy - Decowski - Spurrell

Soucy - Welinski
Johnson - Raskob
Corrin - Molenaar

Crandall (Aaron) - McNeely - Fons

WMU
Berschbach - Balisy - Kovacs
McKee - Mellor - Hadley
Hargrove - Kessel - LaPorte
Dries - Cichy - Novak

Nitsche - Morrison
Dienes - Fleming
Oesterle - Brown

Slubowski - Hafner

(Note: Hafner is starting. WMU lists goalies in numerical order.)

New Season Begins, and Desperation Ensues for Bulldogs, Broncos

Each is two games over .500 overall, and exactly .500 in league play. They have identical NCHC records, separated only by a head-to-head tiebreaker that shows a 3-1 edge for UMD.

However, what that 3-1 edge doesn't tell you is that two of those three UMD wins over Western Michigan this season were tied at some point in the third period, while the other was tied in the second period before UMD scored twice. Hardly blowouts, even though UMD was clearly the better team in the Kalamazoo games.

"They were really good," Western Michigan coach Andy Murray said this week. "Great team speed, played real hard."

Why the success against a WMU team that plays so tight and is this difficult to beat in front of the net?

"I think they bring out the best in us," junior forward Justin Crandall said. "They force you to play intense, up and down the ice. We really like playing that team. I thought that was one of our best weekends, going in a tough building and beating a good team back to back."

This runs counterbalance to some UMD teams of the past. Western Michigan plays a hard-nosed, physical game, and the Broncos are really good at outnumbering opposing teams deep in the defensive zone. It keeps teams from mounting sustained attacks because it's difficult to forecheck effectively against them. However, the Broncos struggled at times with UMD's speed.

Expect them to come out hitting early and often this weekend. They have some bigger guys like sophomores Colton Hargrove (ten goals) and Josh Pitt (nine goals, but suspended for Friday due to getting a third game misconduct of the season last weekend). Like UMD, Western has some scoring balance. Justin Kovacs, Shane Berschbach, Chase Balisy, and Nolan LaPorte can all get in on the act.

They have speed guys who can get the puck through the neutral zone in a hurry, and the forwards are generally responsible defensively. The line of Will Kessel, Sheldon Dries, and North Dakota transfer Mike Cichy is the go-to defensive line for Murray, but he doesn't get his choice of matchups this weekend as the visiting coach.

The Broncos have an active and often effective blue line, led by experienced guys like Dennis Brown and Jordan Oesterle, and supplemented with talented sophomore Kenney Morrison.

UMD won three straight after a four-game skid before dropping Saturday's season finale to Nebraska Omaha.

"After the four-game streak, we could have gone the other way," Bulldog head coach Scott Sandelin told Jim Rich of the NCHC Radio Show this week. "I thought our guys regrouped and went into a tough place in Miami and got a couple wins. I think our guys understand how we have to play to win games."

Make no mistake: They better figure it out. This is it.

UMD is probably not going to make the NCAA Tournament without going on an extended run in the NCHC playoffs and possibly winning the league tournament to get the autobid. Intrepid PairWise mind John Forsyth (@blackbear93 on Twitter) has UMD listed as a team that can play its way in without the automatic bid (though he says it's an outside shot). My assumption is this would require two wins this weekend and a win over St. Cloud State in the NCHC semifinals next Friday, but my math isn't good enough to figure it out beyond that.

The equally intrepid Jim Dahl believes UMD can work its way back to the immediate tournament bubble by winning this series. His graphic seems to indicate UMD's chances of getting in the top 15 after this weekend sit at around 20 percent if business is successfully taken care of against the Broncos.

Bottom line: UMD needs to win this weekend, or it's all over for 2013-14. That would mark the end for UMD seniors Aaron Crandall, Joe Basaraba, Max Tardy, and Tim Smith, along with retiring junior defenseman Luke McManus.

"I think we're too good of a hockey team to be done after this weekend," the younger Crandall brother said. "I think we've got too much talent and grit in that locker room to be done."

One can only hope he's right. Unquestionably, Western Michigan will bring out every bit of that talent and grit, as the Broncos have all season.

Game 34: Omaha at UMD

I expect this to be interesting. UNO has little to play for, outside of third place in the league and maybe being a spoiler to UMD's home-ice hopes.

Lines?

Lines.

UMD
Osterberg - Cameranesi - Crandall (Justin)
Decowski - Herbert - Basaraba
Iafallo - Toninato - Krause
Farley - Tardy - Spurrell

Soucy - Welinski
Johnson - Raskob
Corrin - Molenaar

Crandall (Aaron) - McNeely - Fons

UNO
Guentzel - Zombo - Archibald
Walters - Montpetit - Ortega
Searfoss - Lane - Polk
Youso - Pearce - Simonson

Megna - Seeler
Cooper - O'Rourke
Young - Brady

Massa - Thompson

Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: Bulldogs Build a Snowman in Rout of Mavericks

Had no idea what to expect this weekend at Amsoil Arena.

Never would have guessed "UMD by six" in the series opener, but that's exactly what we got.

The Bulldogs won going away 8-2, scoring the most goals in a game since November of 2009, when some guy named Justin Fontaine scored four in an 8-1 win over Michigan Tech.

11 UMD players had at least one point, while six had at least two. Kyle Osterberg and Justin Crandall each had three. Tony Cameranesi scored the first two goals inside of the game's first ten minutes. So, yeah, that line was going.

Meanwhile, UNO's stud line of Dominic Zombo, Josh Archibald, and Jake Guentzel were held to a fat goose-egg at even strength. Archibald's only contribution to the scoresheet was a cheap elbow to Cal Decowski's head that got him ejected from the game in the third period.

(To be fair, it looked like goalie Aaron Crandall was cheating toward Archibald, who was at the bottom of the left faceoff circle, when Michael Young snuck a shot by his glove for a second period PPG.)

Zombo scored a power play goal, and Guentzel assisted on both UNO goals, which were both on power plays. The guys responsible, primarily, were Dominic Toninato, Alex Iafallo, and Adam Krause. Toninato won draws all night, and they hounded the puck when they didn't have it, keeping scoring chances to a minimum for the befuddled Mavericks. Safe to say we'll see that matchup again Saturday, with the Zombo line challenged to play better and get Archibald open for some scoring chances.

UMD jumped UNO early, outshooting the visitors 18-5 in the first period. Only having a 2-1 lead could have been discouraging on a different night, but not this one. The Bulldogs kept putting on pressure, and goalie Ryan Massa was simply overwhelmed. Coach Dean Blais pulled Massa after the fifth UMD goal, a laser of a one-timer by Osterberg. Freshman Reed Peters offered little resistance, stopping six of eight shots, and UMD threw in an empty-netter when Blais went without a goalie during a chunk of four-on-four hockey midway through the third.

Osterberg, Cameranesi, and Justin Crandall combined for 14 shots on goal and five goals, with Cameranesi and Crandall getting two apiece.

UNO won't just go away. This team didn't score five or more five times over an 11-game span by accident. The Bulldogs sapped their will on Friday, thanks to physical play, a relentless forecheck, and great puck possession. It won't be this easy again on Saturday. Expect the Mavericks to push back, and the Bulldogs will have to play another smart game, take care of the puck, and hound it when they don't have it.

One negative: I thought UMD's defensive zone play got a little soft for a stretch of the third when it was 5-2. It didn't lead to anything, really, but it's the kind of thing that can burn the Bulldogs against a dangerous offensive team if they keep it up. Just a few lazy passes leading to turnovers. When you win by six, it can be glossed over, but Saturday will not be a six-goal game.

******

Plus/minus is dumb when taken in the context of a single game. But this is supposed to be fun, right? So let's have some fun with Friday's numbers.

Carson Soucy and Andy Welinski were each plus-four. Osterberg, Cameranesi, and Justin Crandall were all plus-three. UMD had only three skaters who weren't pluses. UNO had four skaters who weren't minuses. Nick Seeler was minus-five, while Tanner Lane was minus-four.

Among skaters, Soucy now has the team lead at plus-ten, while Osterberg is plus-eight and Crandall plus-seven for the season.

******

Elsewhere in the NCHC, results have rendered Saturday a meaningless game for UNO. The Mavericks are 28th in the Pairwise, and one win isn't going to lift them to even bubble team status. North Dakota's 2-0 win over Western Michigan clinched home ice for the Mavericks next weekend. Only question is whether they're seeded third or fourth.

In Grand Forks, Stephane Pattyn and Luke Johnson scored 18 seconds apart late in the second period to lift UND. Zane Gothberg was perfect on 18 shots for his second collegiate shutout and first at The Ralph. With a regulation win, North Dakota is in the driver's seat for the No. 1 seed in the NCHC playoffs and the right to host Miami in a best-of-three next weekend. UND needs to match what SCSU does in Saturday's season finale to hold on to the top seed. Western can no longer get home ice, no matter what happens Saturday.

St. Cloud State's top six forwards were unbelievable in a 7-4 win at Colorado College that kept the Huskies in line to potentially share the Penrose Cup. Joey Benik had two goals and three assists, Jonny Brodzinski picked up a hat trick, Kalle Kossila had four assists, and Jimmy Murray one goal and two assists. T'was more than enough for Ryan Faragher, who stopped 30 of 34.

At Magness Arena, Denver stayed alive for home ice by beating Miami 5-2. Emil Romig, Zac Larraza, Joey LaLeggia, and Nolan Zajac all had one goal and one assist each for Denver. Goalie Sam Brittain made 36 saves. Want a microcosm of Miami's season? Matt Marcinew was ejected for a hit from behind, and Miami had a long power play going into the third period with the score 3-2. The power play lasted all of two minutes before the RedHawks took a bench minor for too many men to negate the power play for two minutes. It's been that kind of year.

******

Now, what you all have probably been waiting for.

What has to happen Saturday for UMD to get home ice?

The Bulldogs clinch it themselves with a win in regulation or overtime. That actually would put UMD in third.

UMD also clinches home ice with a shootout win, which would lock the Bulldogs in fourth.

If Omaha wins a shootout, UMD would need Denver to go to a shootout with Miami, at the minimum. If UMD loses a shootout and Denver wins in regulation or overtime, the Bulldogs would finish fifth and hop a bird to Denver next weekend.

If UMD does not gain any points Saturday, it needs Denver to lose -- regulation, overtime, or shootout would work just fine.

Potential opponents are whittled to Western Michigan and Denver. UMD will not travel to Kalamazoo under any circumstances. If the teams meet, it will happen in Duluth. Denver is the only team UMD could play on the road. The Pioneers could also end up in Duluth.

Either way, a lot on the line Saturday night.

Game 33: Nebraska Omaha at UMD

Lines?

Lines.

UMD
Osterberg - Cameranesi - Crandall (Justin)
Decowski - Herbert - Basaraba
Iafallo - Toninato - Krause
Farley - Tardy - Spurrell

Soucy - Welinski
Johnson - Raskob
Corrin - Molenaar

Crandall (Aaron) - McNeely - Fons

UNO
Guentzel - Zombo - Archibald
Walters - Montpetit - Ortega
Searfoss - Lane - Polk
Youso - Pearce - Simonson

Megna - Seeler
Cooper - O'Rourke
Young - Brady

Massa - Peters

UMD's Mission: Stop Archibald, Gain Home Ice

UMD has swept three NCHC road series in January. The first of those came Jan. 10-11 in Omaha, where senior goalie Aaron Crandall almost single-handedly backstopped UMD to six points.

By now, you're well aware that Crandall made 90 saves on the weekend, with one-sixth of them -- 15 total -- coming from shots by Josh Archibald, UNO's star sniper.

"He had chances," junior co-captain Adam Krause said. "Thankfully, Aaron played the way he did that weekend. Out of his mind."

Stakes are high this weekend for both teams, but especially UMD. The Bulldogs could finish anywhere from third to sixth in the NCHC, so work is done to secure the right to play at home next weekend. And make no mistake. 4-7-3 home record be damned. This team wants to play at home next weekend.

"It would mean a lot," head coach Scott Sandelin said this week.

"I think it'd be huge to get the first series here," Krause said.

Let's be honest. A road series would likely, based on the scenarios in play, be played in either Denver or Kalamazoo. It's no fun to book a flight on short notice, and it adds travel headaches that don't necessarily exist in the regular season.

This will be a challenging weekend. UNO has cranked up the offense since UMD's visit. The Mavericks have scored five or more goals in a game five times over the last 11 they have played. Archibald, Brock Montpetit, and freshman Jake Guentzel have formed a very strong line over the last few weeks, with all three benefiting from one another.

Sandelin and Krause agreed that last weekend's series against Miami -- especially the Saturday game -- had a playoff type of intensity to it.

"I really liked how our guys played," Sandelin said. "Both goalies were good, and I was happy to see Aaron get the shutout (Saturday)."

"Having Aaron kind of stand on his head, and us playing committed to the team defense after we got the lead, I think that's playoff hockey right there," Krause said.

The Mavericks are winless in their last four games against UMD, dating back one year to last season's home finale. Crandall has started the last three of those head-to-head meetings. In those games, he has stopped 122 of 125 shots for a .976 save percentage, with one shutout.

Odds are the Bulldogs won't be able to hold Archibald down again this weekend. He doesn't have 28 goals in 32 games by accident. But it's going to be fun to watch them try. I'd guess Sandelin will try to match Montpetit's line against Dominic Toninato, Alex Iafallo, and Krause whenever he can this weekend. I'd also assume Dean Blais is thinking the same thing, so don't be surprised if Blais mixes up his lines and tries to sneak Archibald out there at different times to exploit other -- potentially more favorable -- matchups.

The Mavericks are dangerous on the attack, but the Bulldogs might be able to expose some things in the back end if they can generate the puck possession necessary to do it. I thought the Bulldogs did a good job defensively last weekend at Miami, especially on Saturday, and hopefully that will carry over to this weekend.

As for scenarios, I'll update this if the NCHC sends along anything more official than my horrific math skills, but here is what I believe lies ahead for UMD.

If UMD sweeps UNO, it will finish third.
If UMD takes five points and Western does not sweep North Dakota, UMD will finish fourth.
If UMD takes four points, Western does not sweep, and Denver does not sweep Miami, UMD will finish fourth.

If Western Michigan sweeps North Dakota, I will impale myself with a broken stick UMD needs to sweep UNO to secure home ice.

If Denver sweeps Miami, UMD needs to take at least four points to secure home ice.

This list is completely incomplete, and I will update it, like I said, if the league provides any sort of more comprehensive information.

******

Crandall is one of four UMD seniors who will be honored during the first intermission of Saturday's game at Amsoil Arena. Oddly, the four come from three different years.

Crandall joined the team in 2009-2010, but did not play on a redshirt. Forwards Joe Basaraba and Max Tardy came on board and won rings as part of the 2010-11 Bulldogs. Defenseman Tim Smith joined the next fall, as a transfer from Providence.

All four have played big roles on this team. Crandall has emerged as the clear-cut No. 1 goalie, thrice winning NCHC Goalie of the Week honors. Basaraba has developed into a hard-nosed forward who does a lot of the little things right. Tardy had a rough junior season, but while he hasn't gotten on the scoresheet much, he's worked hard and played well in his role this season. Smith is a very good defensive defenseman who brings snarl and attitude.

In addition, junior defenseman Luke McManus is retiring after this season because of injury. He will be part of the group honored on Senior Night. McManus has been snakebit by various injuries throughout his UMD career. Luke's a good egg -- and a very smart kid -- whose presence in the room and on the road will be missed by this guy, among others.

For those wondering, McManus' decision means that UMD will be adding another defenseman in the 2014 recruiting class. There are options, including bringing in a committed player early and pursuing a defenseman currently playing in juniors. UMD has done well in the past with late-blooming recruits (Brady Lamb comes to mind as a blue-liner who committed late and turned into a pretty damn good player). I've been given no real reason to expect to lose any guys early, so this could end up being the most interesting story we have to cover regarding the UMD offseason. I wouldn't complain if that happened.

One Person's Completely Invalid All-NCHC Choices

The NCHC is smart. It isn't letting me vote for the all-league teams.

It's smart, because fans of North Dakota and St. Cloud State have been blunt in their criticisms of my votes in the past. They decided I didn't know what I was doing because I didn't pick enough of their favorite teams' players. They were probably right in some cases.

Anyway, the regular season closes this weekend, and while the media is not asked to vote on league honors, I've been asked to submit my choices anyway. And as my wife will (probably not) attest, I always do what I'm asked.

So without any further ado, here are my choices for this season's NCHC awards, along with some discussion on some of the tough calls. Decisions are made a little easier because I was able to see video on teams before they played UMD. This was a regular practice every week, so I got a look at every team in the league on video. That helped, especially with Denver and Miami, teams UMD saw only one time apiece.

FIRST TEAM
Forwards
Josh Archibald, Nebraska Omaha
Shane Berschbach, Western Michigan
Jonny Brodzinski, St. Cloud State

Defensemen
Paul LaDue, North Dakota
Andrew Prochno, St. Cloud State

Goalie
Ryan Faragher, St. Cloud State

SECOND TEAM
Forwards
Riley Barber, Miami
Nic Dowd, St. Cloud State
Rocco Grimaldi, North Dakota

Defensemen
Joey LaLeggia, Denver
Dillon Simpson, North Dakota

Goalie
Sam Brittain, Denver

APOLOGIES TO ...
Forwards
Chase Balisy, Western Michigan
Caleb Herbert, UMD
Kalle Kossila, St. Cloud State
Dominic Zombo, Nebraska Omaha

Defensemen
Jaccob Slavin, Colorado College
Andy Welinski, UMD
Nolan Zajac, Denver

Goalie
Ryan Massa, Nebraska Omaha

ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Forwards
Jake Guentzel, Nebraska Omaha
Luke Johnson, North Dakota
Kyle Osterberg, UMD

Defensemen
Paul LaDue, North Dakota
Jaccob Slavin, Colorado College

Goalie
Kirk Thompson, Nebraska Omaha

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Goalie of the Year: Ryan Faragher, St. Cloud State
Defenseman of the Year: Andrew Prochno, St. Cloud State
Rookie of the Year: Kyle Osterberg, UMD
Forward of the Year: Josh Archibald, Nebraska Omaha
Offensive Defenseman of the Year: Joey LaLeggia, Denver
Defensive Forward of the Year: Rocco Grimaldi, North Dakota
Player of the Year: Josh Archibald, Nebraska Omaha

Some very easy decisions. For example, every place you see Archibald's name listed? Easy call. No problem.

Had a hard time fleshing out the defensemen, especially Slavin and CC teammate Gustav Olofsson. LaDue played himself onto the team with his performances against Miami (watched on "tape") and UMD (in the flesh). When I put this together at mid-season, he wasn't anywhere to be found.

Brodzinski locked himself on my first team when he beat UMD with that laser of a one-timer in St. Cloud. Amazing college goal scorer.

And, yes, you read it correctly. No UMD players on my first or second teams. Sorry, guys.

Monday Musings: Bulldogs Crank Up Intensity, Sweep Miami

Before Saturday's tilt with Miami, UMD head coach Scott Sandelin -- who has danced a few dances in his day -- used the word "feisty" to describe what was to come.

"I expect them to be very physical," he told me pregame. "I expect the game to get a little feisty. Be ready to compete."

Couldn't have been more correct.

In a game that saw some serious playoff-type intensity on the ice, UMD held off the RedHawks 1-0 for a series sweep. As the horn sounded, and Aaron Crandall made the last of his 30 saves on a 170-foot shot by Austin Czarnik, UMD defenseman Derik Johnson was run over by Miami's Blake Coleman. It wasn't the first dirty hit by Coleman on the weekend, but it was the most glaring.

And it started the closest thing we've seen to a brawl involving UMD in a long time. Players paired off in a couple different spots on the ice, and officials worked to separate them and eventually put a bunch of guys in each team's respective penalty box.

Johnson and Coleman got matching roughing minors and ten-minute misconducts. The game officials chose not to call anything else, which was somewhat surprising. However, it's nothing but a stat pad to call anything but misconducts in that situation. A bunch of matching minors would have made the scoresheet look interesting, but accomplished little else. The postgame handshake went by the wayside, and that was probably a good idea in that moment.

(That said, the NCHC wouldn't be out of line to place a phone call to both teams and just make sure they know what they probably already know: Postgame fracases -- or fracasi? -- that lead to the handshake line not happening are frowned upon. Even if it's with a wink and nod.)

(Best moment of the night? As much as I don't want to encourage such shenanigans, after it all settled down and the teams left the ice, a few UMD players encouraged the home fans to boo. And they booed. UMD was a bigger heel in that moment than Batista was in Green Bay last Monday. Maybe we should be main-eventing WrestleMania, eh?)

Crandall was razor-sharp on Saturday. He saw a lot of the shots fired his way because of a strong defensive effort in front of him. Kyle Osterberg buried the best scoring chance he had all weekend. Emotions were high on both benches.

Sounds like playoff hockey to me.

Fitting, because we've got one more weekend to go, and then it will be playoff hockey for everyone. The stakes get raised, and then everyone gets a bit edgier.

Games like Saturday aren't designed to duplicate playoff intensity. Instead, it just happens. The UMD side was somewhat irritated at a few plays by Coleman in Friday's game, and surely the Miami people felt the same way about someone for UMD. That's how these things percolate.

Factor in UMD's bubbling frustration after a four-game losing streak, and Miami coming to grips with a season that saw it picked to win the NCHC yet ended up in last place. It's a cocktail for truculence.

For both teams, it was good on a number of levels. Incidents like that aren't proud moments for college hockey, but the fans get into them (largely because of the scarcity), and while people might not want to outwardly admit it, they can be galvanizing moments for teams.

It's one thing to see a little post-whistle skirmish where a couple guys on the ice stick up for one another. This was different. Everyone was on the ice. Each team had its purpose, and the players can sense a togetherness that comes out of such things.

Hey, it isn't much. But with the playoffs quickly approaching, coaches wisely will use any little nugget to drive/motivate/tick off their players. If what happened Saturday can help bring the UMD room even closer together than it already was, then we'll take it.

******

The Bulldogs have a good shot at home ice in the NCHC quarterfinals. At this point, no further help is needed for UMD to finish in the top four.

Actually, if UMD sweeps UNO at home Friday and Saturday, the Bulldogs will finish third. UMD could end as low as sixth, but we aren't going to talk about that.

If the series is not a UMD sweep, here are the ways UMD can still attain home ice, as the Bulldogs enter the weekend tied for fourth in the league:

1. Finish with no less than one fewer point than Denver (vs Miami) this weekend
2. Finish with the same number of points or more points than Western Michigan (at North Dakota)

If either Denver or Western Michigan (but not both) pass UMD, the Bulldogs will finish fifth and travel to play whichever team passed them. In this scenario, UMD doesn't do well this weekend, which means UNO won't get passed for third place.

If both Denver and Western Michigan pass UMD, the Bulldogs will finish sixth, and would likely play next weekend at Omaha, the No. 3 seed.

(UNO could still pass St. Cloud State and/or North Dakota, but those scenarios aren't as likely, especially with SCSU playing Colorado College and UND at home for Western Michigan.)

******

Nebraska Omaha indeed visits this weekend. The Mavericks have ripped off a 6-3 record over nine games, including wins over St. Cloud State, North Dakota, and Denver. UNO's Josh Archibald is the centerpiece of what might be the most dangerous line in college hockey, at least west of the Mason/Dixon Line. Currently playing with Dominic Zombo (14 goals, 16 assists, 30 points) and Jake Guentzel (six goals, 22 assists, 28 points), Archibald is a shoo-in for NCHC Player of the Year. If Johnny Gaudreau gets caught with a gun in his bag at the airport in the next couple weeks, Archibald has a real shot at the Hobey Baker Award.

In 32 games, Archibald has 28 goals.

I'm not making that up.

And, no, UNO hasn't played Huntsville this season.

You might remember January in Omaha, when Crandall kept Archibald off the board with a dizzying array of great saves. Archibald had nine shots on goal Friday, six more Saturday, and didn't get a single one by Crandall.

If that happens again this weekend, one can imagine that we'll be checking in between Archibald's ears to see if Crandall has taken up residency. It just isn't likely. Archibald is so good that Sandelin and/or Crandall might be able to write a book about holding him off the board for four games.

In other words, don't bet on it.

Though I think I'd love to read that book.

Game 32: UMD at Miami

OXFORD, Ohio -- One more time from Oxford, where the Bulldogs look to continue their push for home ice advantage in the NCHC quarterfinals.

UMD won Friday's game 5-4, surviving an early 2-0 hole with a stout 18-skater effort and continuously improved play from senior goalie Aaron Crandall, who made 20 saves and stopped all nine shots in the third period after Adam Krause's short-handed goal gave the Bulldogs the lead for good.

Three games left in the regular season, and it's pretty simple for UMD. Win all three, and home ice is earned for the quarterfinal round. Lose or tie (plus shootout) any, and the Bulldogs no longer "control their own destiny" and would require help of some sort to attain home ice.

Lines?

Lines.

UMD
Osterberg - Cameranesi - Crandall (Justin)
Decowski - Herbert - Basaraba
Iafallo - Toninato - Krause
Farley - Tardy - Spurrell

Soucy - Welinski
Johnson - Raskob
Corrin - Molenaar

Crandall (Aaron) - Fons

MU
Coleman - Czarnik - Barber
Wideman - Kuraly - Gacek
Murphy - Cook - Louis
Morris - Greenberg - Paulazzo

Caito - Joyaux (Chris)
Joyaux (Matt) - Paulides
Mooney - Hamilton

McKay - Williams - Jacaruso