Roses and Thorns: No Need to Share

NCHC Playoffs First Round Matchups
Best-of-three series, at high seed:

No. 1 UND vs. No. 8 Colorado College;
No. 2 SCSU vs. No. 7 Western Mighigan;
No. 3 Denver vs. No. 6 Nebraska Omaha;
No. 4 Minnesota Duluth vs. No. 5 Miami.

The UND men's hockey team clinched a share of the Penrose Cup with a sweep of Nebraska Omaha last weekend, but after the series, the team made it very clear that a share wasn't enough.

Needing just one point against Western Michigan to become National Collegiate Hockey Conference champions outright, the Green and White wasted no time at the Ralph this past weekend.

UND rolled the Broncos for the entire 60 minute affair, winning in 8-1 fashion on Friday to clinch the Penrose all alone, for the second straight season. The Green and White paraded the Cup around the Ralph in celebration.

With the trophy in hand, UND struggled a bit on Saturday to find the same scoring touch, but battled back from a 3-1 deficit in the first period to a 5-4 win and a sweep in their last regular season series of the season, their 11th sweep of the year.

The CBS line ripped the Broncos on the weekend, tallying 13 points in the series. Brock Boeser's six-point weekend (3 goals, 3 assists) led the freshman to the NCHC scoring title, the first for a rookie in UND history.

Here's what stood out to DDC in UND's sweep of WMU in his last regular season Roses and Thorns column of the season.

Roses

No. 1 -- Brock Boeser and The CBS

As the regular season closed, the CBS regained its form against Western Michigan. The line of Drake Caggiula, Nick Schmaltz and Brock Boeser were incredible this weekend. Schmaltz's highlight reel goal that made it to No. 3 on SportsCenter's Top 10 was the lead, but the CBS didn't stop there. Boeser flashed his scoring touch here at :10 and at :55. Senior Caggiula also chipped in during his final regular season game for UND at 4:21 in this video, this time sniping the game-winner on Saturday to pace a dominant weekend for UND's top line. Boeser took the NCHC scoring title with a tremendous weekend, the first for a UND freshman. This line stirs the drink for the Green and White and with the playoffs kicking off this coming weekend, UND looks for more of the same as the skate for No. 8 starts.

No. 2 -- Sweet Send-Off for the Seniors

"That's tough," Chyzyk said after
UND's 5-4 win,  holding back tears.
"That's tough. Just thinking about
four years going through
your head. . . special place."

Senior night started off a bit rocky as WMU scored three goals on their first four shots of the game leading to starting goaltender Cam Johnson getting pulled in favor of Matt Hyrnkiw, stunning the REA crowd. Trailing 3-1 after the first period, Bryn Chyzyk entered the locker room and let the team know that it wasn't going to end like this. "Screw senior night," alternate captain Chyzyk told his teammates. "We need to win." In the second with Hyrnkiw in the net, Chyzyk responded accordingly, netting a short-handed goal to spark the comeback 5-4 win. Caggiula scored the game winner early in the third. It was a great weekend for the four as Sanderson chipped in two goals on Friday and St. Clair entered the lineup on Saturday after sitting out the night before. After the Saturday night win, the group watched their tribute video and emotions ran high. "Extremely emotional," Caggiula said of his final regular season home game. "It just exceeded everything I thought it could be. Even during the game, there were lots of ups and downs. Then, obviously, with it being senior night. . . it's pretty emotional seeing my mom cry before the game, so I've got to put a little on her. It's emotional but it's a special one." The group of seniors get one more go of it at the REA, in the first round of the NCHC playoffs this weekend against Colorado College.

No. 3 -- Offensive Explosion

UND netted 13 goals on the weekend, including eight on Friday in their highest output of the season. While the CBS line certainly did their part, the Green and White got plenty of secondary scoring against the Broncos. UND's fourth line scored four times on Friday, two each by Sanderson and freshman Chris Wilkie. Chyzyk, freshman Shane Gersich and juniors Paul LaDue and Troy Stecher rounded out the secondary scoring on Saturday. Eight goals from non-CBS players is a big deal for this team. Wilkie looked sharp on Friday and getting goals from the freshman who tied for the lead the USHL scoring title last year, is huge for UND going into the playoffs.

UND gathered with the Penrose Cup after a 8-1 win on Friday night that clinched the NCHC regular season title outright.

While the Penrose win is an important one for the Green and White, the team wants to accomplish much more. "There's other stuff out there for us," UND senior Coltyn Sanderson said after the win. "It's obviously a huge accomplishment, especially with the league we play in. At the same time, this program hasn't won a national championship in a long time. That's on our minds. I know it has been on mine for four years. It is now (on our minds) with the opportunity and skill within our room. That's the only thing we'll be satisfied with this year." (Photo Credit: Eric Hylden, Grand Forks Herald)

Thorns

No. 1 -- Injuries

*Sigh*.... Oh the lovely injury bug makes another appearance in the Thorns section. After a dynamite, four-point night (1g, 3a) on Friday, freshman Nick Schmaltz did not play on Saturday despite skating in warm ups. Schmaltz, who was nicked up in the third on Friday, left the ice and was replaced by Joel Janatuinen, who UND head coach Brad Berry had to call from the dorms to hurry into the lineup. Also adding to the injury frustration, captain Gage Ausmus left in the third on Saturday after taking a slapshot to the foot. The junior defenseman rejoined the sqaud for senior send-off, but the injury is still a concerning one for UND. Schmaltz and Ausmus are two key cogs for the Green and White and their status will be something to watch as UND prepares for the NCHC playoffs.

What a weekend. It's time to strap in, folks. The playoffs are here. Come back later this week as DDC previews the first round of the NCHC playoffs.

Thanks for reading.

Friday Gameday: "We Don't Wanna Share That Thing"

With a 4-2, 4-1 sweep last weekend in Omaha and a subsequent sweep by UMD over St. Cloud State, the UND men's hockey team clinched a share of the Penrose Cup as National Collegiate Hockey Conference regular season champions.

For the Green and White, simply put, that isn't enough.

Senior Bryn Chyzyk made that point very clear in this interview for "Through These Doors" after the Saturday win over the Mavericks.

As Chyzyk said, "We don't wanna share that thing."

Chyzyk and his three senior classmates, Drake Caggiula, Colten St. Clair and Coltyn Sanderson, will play their last regular season series in the Ralph Engelstad Arena this weekend as Western Michigan comes to town.

With 1 point this weekend, UND will win the Penrose outright, but with the playoffs just one week away, the Green and White cannot let off the gas.

Here's what to watch for as North Dakota and WMU set to faceoff in DDC's weekly "Who? What? How?" series preview.

Who?

Players to watch

Western Michigan

WMU Fr. F, Griffen Molino

Fr. F, Griffen Molino, 10 goals, 11 assists -- 21 points; Jr. F, Sheldon Dries, 10g, 7a -- 17 pts; Sr. F, Nolan LaPorte, 7g, 7a -- 14 pts; So. F, Frederik Tiffels, 6g, 7a -- 13 pts; Fr. F, Colt Conrad, 5g, 8a -- 13 pts; Sr. G., Lukas Hafner, 5-16-3, 3.59 goals against average, .897 save percentage.

UND

Fr. F, Brock Boeser, 22g (2nd in NCAA in rookie goals, T-4 overall in NCAA), 15a -- 37 pts (5th in NCAA in rookie scoring); Sr. F, Drake Caggiula, 17g, 19a -- 36 pts; So. F, Nick Schmaltz, 4g, 26a (5th in NCAA in assists per game with .93) -- 30 pts; Jr. D, Troy Stecher, 6g, 16a -- 22 pts; So. F, Austin Poganski, 8g, 13a -- 21 pts; So. G, Cam Johnson, 17-3-1 (2nd in NCAA in win percentage), 1.54 GAA (2nd in NCAA), .940 SV PCT (2nd in NCAA), 5 shutouts (T-5 in NCAA).

What?

Standout Stats

UND Fr. F, Brock Boeser
leads the NCHC in goals
(17) and points (29) in
conference games.

UND is allowing just 1.82 goals per game which slates them second in the NCAA.

The Green and White are 10th in the NCAA in goals per game with a 3.35 average. Western Michigan is 51st in the country at 2.19.

UND freshman Brock Boeser leads the NCHC in both goals (17) and points (29) in conference games. No North Dakota freshman has ever finished the season a top the conference scoring charts in either category.

North Dakota has the country's 6th-best penalty kill at 87.6% and since December 1st, the Green and White leads the NCAA with a 95.5% mark including 12 straight kills in their last four games.

The Green and White are 20-0-2 when leading after 2 periods this season and has not lost when leading after two in more than two years.

How?

How'd they get here?

No. 2 UND (No. 2 in PWR, 26-5-3, 17-4-1-1 -- 53 points, clinched at least a share of NCHC regular season title) swept Nebraska Omaha in Omaha 4-2, 4-1.

Western Michigan (8-21-3, 5-16-1-1 -- 17 pts, 7th in NCHC) was swept at home against Denver, 5-1, 4-1.

North Dakota swept the Broncos 2-0, 2-1 in Kalamazoo on January 29-30.

The Pick

DDC had to think hard last weekend, for a variety of reasons, to pick a sweep against Nebraska Omaha.

While the thought of a letdown after a convincing sweep that clinched UND's 17th conference title, the most in college hockey history, has crossed DDC's mind, this blogger just doesn't see it happening.

It's senior weekend at the Ralph and the four men leaving this program at season's end won't let the Green and White take a step back.

UND clinched at least a share of the Penrose Cup with a sweep last weekend
in Omaha. Will the Green and White skate away from their series
against the Western Michigan Broncos as outright champions?

WMU plays an aggressive and physical style of play, evidenced by two tight-checking games in Kalamazoo. UND grinded out a sweep 2-0, 2-1 in January and the Broncos will look to bring the same type of game to the Ralph

One point separates UND from outright possession of the Penrose Cup and DDC expects the Green and White to come out firing on Friday night to earn that. 

The Green and White are more talented in every facet than this WMU squad and with the conference tournament one week away, it's time for UND to flex its muscles.

UND SWEEPS ON SENIOR WEEKEND, 5-1, 3-0.

Thanks for reading. Check back early next week to see if UND didn't have to share the Penrose.

Roses and Thorns: Reasons for Excitement

Pure goal scoring.

Dynamic, game-breaking, cold-blooded goal scoring.

Whatever superlative you'd like to name it, the UND men's hockey team has lacked a pure goal-scoring punch over the last few seasons. Couple that sentiment with the fact the the Green and White lost six of it's 10 leading point producers from last season either to graduation or professional hockey, the need for scoring was a major story line heading into the 2015-16 season.

Albeit in exhibition form, UND may have gotten a glimpse of a special crop of goal scorers in a 8-3 drubbing of the Manitoba Bisons on Saturday night.

Trailing 2-1 early the second period, the Green and White ripped off seven unanswered goals en route to a victory. Of those eight goals, four came off the sticks of freshmen suiting up for the first time for UND.

For those of you new to the blog, DDC takes a look back at each weekend's series with his Roses and Thorns. Roses are the positives with Thorns being negatives.

So, let's take a look at what stood out.

Roses 

Freshman forward Brock Boeser notched his first goal in Green and White
in UND's 8-3 exhibition win on Saturday. (Photo credit: GF Herald)

No. 1 -- New Blood

As mentioned before, UND got four of its eight goals on Saturday night from freshmen. Three more came off the stick of Johnny Simonson, a sophomore that did not score a goal in just 22 appearances as a freshman. Brock Boeser gave the fans a peek at what looks to be pretty special ability, firing a laser that beat the Bisons' netminder high glove side, tying the game at one in the first period. Then in the second, Shane Gersich notched back-to-back goals in a span of 12 seconds to give UND the lead. Joel Janatuinen also scored his first goal in a UND uniform. The production wasn't just goal scoring. Boeser, Janatuinen and Chris Wilkie also notched assists. So, in total, the Green and White underclassmen (freshmen and sophomores) tallied 15 points with seven of those coming from freshmen. An encouraging start, to say the least.

No. 2 -- Don't Forget About Us

Some of UND's "elder statesmen" shined, as well. Junior assistant captain Troy Stecher looked dynamic on Saturday night, tallying three assists and fellow junior Keaton Thompson added two, including a terrific pass off the side boards from the defensive zone to spring Boeser for his goal. The upperclassman, especially in the defensive corps, will need to continue to shine as scoring from freshmen can't be expected every night, particularly early on in the season.

No. 3 -- Effort Before Execution

New head coach Brad Berry echoed the idea of "effort before execution" to his young team in the week leading up to the exhibition win. That certainly showed on Saturday night. Despite trailing 1-0 and 2-1 early on in this game, UND never let off the gas. The Green and White peppered the Manitoba net with 56 shots on goal and carried a tremendous pace throughout. Credit the veterans and coaching staff for keeping the freshmen from being starry-eyed in their first appearance in front of their rowdy, Ralph Engelstad Arena crowd.

Thorns

Sr. F, Colten St. Clair
will miss the first half
of the season due to injury.

No. 1 -- Injuries

Already? C'mon!

UND found out on Friday that it will be without senior forward Colten St. Clair for half the season after suffering an arm injury in practice that will require surgery. Also, freshman goaltender and third-round NHL draft pick Matej Tomek sat out on Saturday with a nagging wrist injury. Tomek's injury, however, looks like it won't keep the Slovak rookie out much longer.

Here's to hoping that this is never a thorn again, this season.

No. 2 -- Shaky Start Between the Pipes

 

Goaltending, behind the play of All-American Zane McIntrye, hasn't been a question mark for UND over the past two seasons. With the injury to Tomek, it was sophomore Cam Johnson's net on Saturday night for an early audition. Although Johnson's play didn't decide the game in anyway, the netminder didn't impress, allowing three goals on just 12 shots faced, including two in his first four. Johnson, who was pulled in the first period in his only action as a freshman, fought the puck a bit on Saturday and had two goals in particular that he'd most likely want back. The Michigan native will likely be an important piece for this UND squad as the Green and White look to replace a gaping hole. Despite having an excellent defensive corps in front of him this season, Johnson simply needs to be better going forward.

So, that's it.

Come back later this week as UND prepares to head to Portland, Maine for games with Lake Superior State and Maine on Friday and Saturday night at the IceBreaker Invitational.