Sophomore goaltender Adam Gajan continues to shine in the series sweep against St. Cloud State University. Photo by Bill Prout - UMD Athletics

Friday’s Military Appreciation Night matchup against the St. Cloud State University Huskies marked the first home NCHC conference series for the newly ranked No. 7 Bulldogs. UMD came into the game with an overall record of 8-2, while their home record stood at 6-1. St. Cloud State entered the game with an overall record of 6-3, with an away record of 1-0.

Coming off of the series split against North Dakota, UMD’s top line of Max and Zam Plante and Jason Shaugabay have combined for a total of 51 points in 10 games. Entering Friday’s game, the Bulldogs have several players sitting at the top of multiple categories in the NCAA.

Forward Max Plante is first in NCAA total points with 19, Jason Shaugabay is second in NCAA assists with 12, and Zam Plante is fourth in NCAA points with 16. Defenseman Ty Hanson is third in NCAA points by a defenseman with 10 and game-winning goals with 2. Goaltender Adam Gajan sits at second in NCAA wins with 8 as well.

Friday

1st Period

Friday’s first period began with a fast pace of play, as both teams flew up and down the ice, generating early scoring chances. However, both goaltenders stayed sharp making sure to keep their teams in the game early. Yet again, just after the halfway point in the first, UMD’s top line of three NHL draft picks, continued to put the Huskies to the test, forcing goaltender Patriks Berzins to make some crucial saves.

With 7:19 left in the first period, both teams took offsetting penalties that led to four-on-four play, and a lot more open space on the ice. Not too long after that, defensemen Adam Kleber and Ty Hanson led the rush, exchanging passes. Just as they entered the zone Hanson set up Kleber with a perfect pass on the tape. Kleber one-timed it in from the left dot just before Berzin's pad could get over to cover the post, putting UMD on the board first.

With about two minutes remaining in the period, Bulldogs goaltender Adam Gajan made a fantastic cross-crease save, while doing the splits that kept the Huskies off the board.

In the last couple minutes, UMD ended the period with a fast-paced level of play, hoping to carry it into the second.

2nd Period

Just as UMD had hoped, their pressure carried right into the second as they resumed their offensive zone time. Three minutes later, their continued pressure led to an early second period goal. After defenseman Grayden Siepmann made a deke to get Berzin out of position, he lost the puck. However, forward Scout Truman was waiting back door as he fired the puck into an almost empty net to give the Bulldogs a two-goal lead.

Despite UMD giving St. Cloud three power plays in the period, they managed to kill each one off and execute multiple clears down the ice. After the last Huskie power play, the remaining five minutes in the period were controlled by multiple Bulldog rushes but no goals.

UMD ended the period up by two, outshooting the Huskies 20-11.

3rd Period

Most of the third period resulted in both teams trading rushes and offensive zone time, but there were very few shots on net. Both the Bulldogs and Huskies did an amazing job of getting in lanes to block shots.

Just after the halfway point in the period UMD drew a holding penalty, putting them on their first power play of the game. About a minute into the man advantage, Zam Plante scored his fifth power play goal of the year, on a tip-in from the goal line, on a shot from the point by Max Plante to beat Berzins.

With around seven minutes left in the period, things started to heat up as the Huskies took a roughing penalty, and both teams gathered at center ice for a brief altercation. About a minute later, St. Cloud took another penalty for slashing, putting UMD on a five-on-three man advantage. However the Bulldogs were unable to capitalize and stretch their lead.

With a little over two minutes to play in regulation, the Huskies pulled their goalie in hopes of generating some scoring chances to tie the game up. They were able to spark multiple chances, but Gajan stood tall in net, making several remarkable saves.

With 48 seconds left in the period, Ty Hanson logged his third assist of the game. He dished it to Jason Shaugabay as he launched a shot into the empty net from center ice, to secure the win for the Bulldogs.

UMD’s ninth win of the season was fueled by two-way defenseman Ty Hanson and goaltender Adam Gajan. Hanson recorded three assists, as Gajan stopped all 18 shots he faced, earning his second shutout of the year in the 4-0 victory.

Bulldogs forward Max Plante celebrates his overtime winning goal and memorable career milestone, after being set up by his brother Zam Plante. Photo courtesy of UMD Athletics

Saturday

1st Period

Saturday’s matchup began with tensions rising early, as both teams took offsetting roughing penalties just a minute into the game. Despite a lot of neutral zone play, neither team was able to capitalize with the extra space.

After five minutes of play, Bulldogs goaltender Adam Gajan made a marvelous cross-crease save for the second night in a row, that kept the game notched at zero for the time being. On the same play Gajan drew a slashing penalty that gave UMD their first power play of the game.

Not even a minute later, UMD capitalized as forward Callum Arnott found the back of the net as he put back the rebound on a shot from Max Plante, putting the Bulldogs ahead early.

Just after the halfway point in the period, the Huskies began to put serious pressure on Gajan and the Bulldogs. However, UMD stayed sharp as they continued to block shots, putting their bodies on the line.

The remainder of the period was filled with multiple fast-paced rushes by both teams, but nobody was able to find the back of the net.

2nd Period

Three minutes into the period, the Huskies created a point blank scoring chance, but Gajan challenged the shot making a much needed stop. However, the Bulldogs took a slashing penalty on the shot.

With 16:34 left in the period, the Huskies made the Bulldogs pay, as the puck trickled to the stick of Huskies forward Barret Hall. He spun around and fired it past Gajan for the tally, to give St. Cloud their first goal of the series.

St. Cloud controlled the pace of play early in the period due to multiple penalties the Bulldogs were forced to kill off.

After the midway point in the period, both teams created numerous scoring chances from odd-man rushes and offensive zone pressure, but neither team was able to find success.

With a little over three minutes to play in the period, Huskies forward Tyson Gross flew down the left side and elevated a shot just above Gajan’s right shoulder. Gross’ goal gave the Huskies a 2-1 cushion and their first lead of the series.

St. Cloud ended the period with UMD on their heels, as Gajan was forced to string together several saves to keep the game within one.

3rd Period

Despite the Huskies out-working UMD in most of the second, the Bulldogs didn’t let that bother them. Duluth entered the offensive zone with sustained pressure, as they dictated play early.

Duluth’s early pressure paid off with a game-tying goal by defenseman Grayden Siepmann just over three minutes into the period, set up by a beautiful pass from forward Ryan Zaremba. Siepmann fired a shot from the low slot that beat goaltender Yan Shostak over the left shoulder.

A couple minutes after UMD tied it up, Gajan made another spectacular stop while sitting on the ice, using his glove to rob the Huskies of a near goal and keep the game tied at two.

Regardless of both teams exchanging offensive zone pressure and rushes, both goaltenders continued to stay sharp, keeping the game knotted at two.

Despite valuable offensive zone pressure and a late push from UMD’s top line in the final minutes of the period, the Bulldogs were unable to capitalize, as the game went to overtime.

With 2:28 left in overtime after both teams generated scoring chances, UMD established possession in the offensive zone. After Max Plante circled around the net, he found his brother Zam open at the point. Seconds later, Zam fed it right back to Max for a deadly one-timer from the top of the right circle that beat Shostak farside. After scoring, Max Plante was swarmed by his teammates while also reaching a career milestone. His overtime winning goal secured UMD’s first NCHC sweep of the year, helping the Bulldogs improve to 10-2.

With that game-winning goal, Max Plante reached the 50 career point mark, surpassing Bulldogs legend and NHL Hall of Famer Brett Hull, as the fastest player to reach the mark.

Duluth’s second home series sweep was once again ignited by the Plante brothers and goaltender Adam Gajan. Max Plante capped off the weekend with three points, currently leading the NCAA in total points with 22. Zam Plante finished the weekend with three points, and is now second in total NCAA points with 19. Gajan also earned two wins in the weekend sweep and is now tied for first in NCAA wins by a goaltender with 10, all in just 12 games.

UMD looks to carry their hot streak into next weekend as they prepare to host the University of Nebraska Omaha.

The two-game series will be held at AMSOIL Arena next weekend on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7:07pm and Saturday, Nov. 15 at 6:07pm.

UMD Men’s Hockey Earns First NCHC Series Sweep Of The Year