Dogs Bounce Back Over MSU

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

One night after Minnesota State University-Mankato skated out of AMSOIL Arena with a win in the University of Minnesota Duluth’s 2014-15 home opener, the Bulldogs returned the favor.

UMD erupted for four, third-period goals and received a 36-save performance from rookie netminder Kasimir Kaskiskuo en route to claiming a 6-2 victory over the Mavericks in front of the largest crowd in Verizon Wireless Center history (5,375).
A trio of sophomores — center Dominic Toninato and left wingers Alex Iafallo and Kyle Osterberg — and freshmen center Jared Thomas all turned in two-point nights for the No. 20 Bulldogs, who evened their overall record at 2-2-0. No. 12 Minnesota State, 5-4 overtime winners on Friday night, is also 2-2-0 on the year and has now managed just three victories in their last 11 confrontations with the UMD.

The Bulldogs trailed 1-0 after one period, but got even-strength goals from Osterberg (his first of the year) and sophomore defenseman Carson Sourcy (the second of his career and second in as many nights) to take a 2-1 lead midway through the second period.  With 3:56 to go before the intermission, Chase Grant got the equalizer for Minnesota State, but it was all Bulldogs after that. With UMD a man down, Toninato put his club ahead for good at 3:49 of the third, firing in a shot from the slot off a feed from Iafallo. The goal was Toninato’s nation-leading fifth of the year (two shy then his entire rookie-year harvest) and his fourth career shorthhander. Thomas added some insurance at the 9:24 mark, capping off some great power play puck movement with a one-timer near the right faceoff dot and then added an empty netter for good measure at 15:20. Junior center Tony Cameranesi tacked on another empty net goal with 12 seconds left regulation and with the Mavericks on the power play.

Kaskisuo earned his first win in his second Bulldog start and was particulary stellar in the second period when Minnesota State outshot the Bulldogs 17-7. He also played a key role in shutting down the Minnesota State power play, which went 0-for-6 after scoring three times the previous evening. The Mavericks concluded the night with a sizable 38-20 shot advantage.

UMD will return to AMSOIL Arena next Friday to start a four-game homestand and make its 2014-15 National Collegiate Hockey Conference debuts against the University of Denver