UAA Sweeps UND: 4-2

The UAA Seawolves have already seemed on the cusp of good things this season. First two weeks ago against Wisconsin the Seawolves couldn't quite turn the corner losing in OT on Friday but coming back on Saturday for the win. Then last weekend on the road they win an ugly game on Friday but fall short the next night. Learning from those two recent experiences the team didn't look tonight like it could be denied. The Sioux managed to change the pace of the game from last nights skatefest and the first period tonight was a typical WCHA "tight to the vest" hockey game. With both teams playing good defensively giving up only 8 shots apiece. The first third of the 2nd period was all UND with some long stretches of puck control in the UAA end. The Seawolves had only managed 1 shot when Nick Lowe found himself suddenly with the puck at the blueline. He promptly skated in and buried the shot high. Nick had zero points last year. He scored a beaut. Ya gotta be glad for him as he has ... lets just say ... been "snakebitten" on breakaways during his career. The goal managed to change the momentum enough that the rest of the period wasn't dominated by the Sioux. They scored the next 2 goals; the PP goal was a thing of beauty as the UND players lasered 4 passes back and forth across the ice for a Tic-Tic-Tac-TOE of a goal. It was however the only PP goal the Seawolves allowed in 5 chances on the night making the Sioux 1-10 overall on the weekend. Some valiant but otherwise mistaken Sioux fans behind the bench promptly started in with a sieve sieve sieve chant but spent the rest of the game on their butts as UAA scored the next three goals to seal the deal.

Another good team win all around. Nathan Lawson was SUPERIOR in the net in the third period. He faced made 8 saves in the final 90 seconds and each and every one of them was a game saver. He absolutely was not going to let anything past. He was a wall. Yes Justin ... we saw that you "have a little Captain in you" with that pose after the PP goal. Go ahead and pose ... are you turning into a sniper? I heard a number of other fans commenting about how effective Kevin Clark was tonight and he certainly is beginning to show what kinds of impact he can make. Kevin had more than a few scrapes tonight with Joe "Gaffney" Finley so I'd expect he'll have some bruises. I think the biggest disappointment for some fans is that Kevin doesn't do something spectacular with the puck every time he has it. Well ... just imagine how much he'll be doing with the puck by the end of the year(see that little behind the back pass that Backstrom almost buried?). He is to be congratulated for his virtually penalty free weekend (the one he took was no big deal ... just a stick in the wrong place) with a couple of goals to his credit as well. Jay Beagle is such a leader on the ice. I can't say enough about how impactful his play is. He's "the shit" on the PK. And his offensive contributions are evident on just about every shift he takes. I liked the Beagle, Lunden, Clark line tonight. Coach Shyiak has been changing things around a bit and I think those guys had some good chemistry. Crowder, Bourne and Waldrop looks to me to be a real good combination as well. Crowders puck control, Bourne's shot and Waldrops speed and nose for the puck could make them all a good fit for each other. I think Charlie Kronschnabel was "the shit" all weekend. He is a helluva leader with both his play on the ice and his attitude. I think his teammates really respond well to him. He didn't stop hitting all night and he's winning more than his share of draws (usually against the other teams top guys). Chris Tarkir played on a line with Charlie and Nick Lowe and had a good weekend I thought. He was more visible and impactful this weekend. Cartwright, Tuton and Corrin also added valuable shifts all weekend to contribute. Like I said. It was definitely a weekend when you look at every player and see them doing positive things.

And lest I forget ... How good have we played defensively? If you remove the 9-0 abberation UAA has given up 2.6 goals per game in the other 10 games. Everyone on the blueline did their jobs well this weekend. Every one of them contributed positively on an offensive play. Chad Anderson had the two nicest rushes and snuck a goal under Grieco's skates. His offensive contributions are growing each weekend. Mat Robinson played great tonight. Over and above his usual stellar"ness". He's getting an opportunity in Shyiak and Blair's system to live up to his potential which I think we'll see bloom as the year goes on. He skates and handles the puck so well and has great vision. And Nils Backstrom? He really has a good presence on the ice. He always has his head up. He can dispossess a forward from just about any angle. There were few (if any) situations this weekend where I saw a Sioux player outskate a UAA defensemen. Our blueliners can all wheel. Every guy on the ice this weekend for UAA shares credit for this sweep.