Bulldogs Top Tech

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The University of Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey team faced off against Northern Michigan University for the second time this weekend, aiming to break into the win column after last night’s tie.

This evening’s matchup was another high-scoring and high-penalty affair, with three more total goals and an equal sixteen penalties. The Bulldogs came out on top, outscoring their opponent 8-5 and securing their first official win of the 2023-24 season.

Despite the end result, UMD had to regain ground early. NMU scored 21 seconds into the game, taking advantage of a gap in the UMD defense on a rush.

The Bulldogs caught a break with an early Wildcat penalty for hooking. UMD charged the offensive zone on the power play and a cross-ice pass to Ben Steeves left him with an open, close-range shot. The play was reviewed for offsides, but the call on the ice stood, good goal.

Special teams were out in full force tonight for the Bulldogs. A misplay by the Wildcats gave a short-handed UMD a breakaway with Cole Spicer. He gave the Bulldogs the lead, 2-1. Back on the power play four minutes later, Luke Loheit continued the odd-man scoring.

Unfortunately, UMD took simultaneous penalties for slashing and interference. They held on for three fourth of the kill and even drew a boarding major. With a minute left in the period, NMU was also called for slashing.

The Wildcat penalties carried over into the second period and just after time ran out on the slashing penalty, Owen Gallatin walked the puck in and scored, extending the Bulldogs lead to 4-1.

Both teams followed up with power play goals. NMU scored then were called for tripping, which graduate transfer Connor McMenamin cashed in on. UMD had a three-goal lead again and McMenamin was credited with his first goal as a Bulldog.

The middle period was rounded out by an even strength goal for each team. The Wildcats followed up under a minute after McMenamin, scoring on a goal that was originally called off. With five minutes left in the period, Carter Loney sent a stretch pass to Steeves, who sprinted over the blue line on the breakaway. He patiently stickhandled and sent the puck into the back of the net, ending the period 6-3.

The beginning of the third was quiet, except for a minor penalty handed to either team. With twelve minutes left, Aaron Pionk’s hard shot from the point rebounded to Blake Biondi netfront, who tapped the puck out of the air and in.

UMD had three more penalties called against them this period and NMU scored on two of the ensuing power plays. For the second game in a row, total penalties added up to sixteen.

The Wildcats couldn’t get within one, even after pulling their goaltender, and the game was sealed by McMenamin’s second goal of the night.

In the end, the Bulldogs outscored NMU 8-5 and outshot them 41-28. UMD was called for more penalties, but less time due to the boarding major in the first period.

Twelve Bulldogs found their way onto the scoresheet with goals or assists. Spicer led both teams in faceoff percentage, winning 16 of 21 in his transition to top line center. Matthew Thiessen started his first game of the season and finished with a total of 23 saves, helping secure the first official UMD win.