Slow starts hurt UND

UND, with a 4-3 win on Friday followed by a 2-1 OT loss Saturday, left Mankato with a disappointing split. A few good things can be said about Friday’s win.

North Dakota was certainly opportunistic on the offensive side, scoring four goals on just 20 shots and jumping on some MSU mistakes. On the other end, Zane Gothberg was excellent in goal, enough so that he earned the start the next night. And pulling out a win on the road against a good team when you’re not playing your best is not a bad thing. Am I sugar coating it? Maybe. UND came out and managed only two shots on goal in the first period.

That’s quite a few times this season the team has come out lacking energy. In fact, out of 36 games, North Dakota was held to five shots or less eight times in a first period. As usual, UND followed a weak first period with a much better effort in the second. UND took advantage of two unforced turnovers by MSU. In the second, Mark MacMillan was the beneficiary of a miscommunication between goalie Stephon Williams and his defenseman. MacMillan took the puck from behind the net and wrapped it around into the empty goal. In the third, Stephane “General” Pattyn picked the pocket of an MSU defenseman, went in alone on Williams and buried it for the go ahead goal. An empty netter by Rocco Grimaldi seemed to seal it, but MSU made ie s at Connecticut, Mercyhurst at Holy

Tags: sports, und, hockey