The Bulldogs weren’t short of scoring opportunities this weekend against Omaha. But goals were hard to come by, in large part because of the stellar play of the Mavericks’ goaltender Ryan Massa. UMD’s Kasimir Kaskisuo was on top of his game as well and the goaltenders duked it out both nights, allowing only two goals each over the weekend. “There was great goaltending on both ends.” senior captain Justin Crandall said. “It’s tough to get chances out there either way.”
The Bulldogs were only able to get one past Massa Friday night as Carson Soucy scored his fifth goal of the season. The Mavericks tied things up in the third and it took a shootout to decide a winner.
Massa continued to shut down the Bulldogs and didn’t allow either shooter for UMD, Tony Cameranesi or Andy Welinksi, a goal in the shootout. UMD’s Kaskisuo was beaten twice, however, as UNO gained another point over UMD.
The next night was another scoring bout that would end in the exact same way — a 1-1 tie with Omaha winning in the shootout.
“That was probably the tightest weekend of hockey I’ve played in my four years here,” Crandall said.
Saturday night would also feature a special ceremony for senior night and a somewhat snake-bitten Crandall scoring off a deflection to beat Massa in the second period.
It was Crandall’s 11th goal of the season and kept him thoroughly in possession of the most points against National Collegiate Hockey Conference opponents for UMD.
“It was kind of a weird feeling seeing my mom and dad with Aaron out there last year and it just feels like, boom, blink your eyes and I’m out there now,” Crandall said. “The most exciting thing is we’re nowhere near the end of this journey yet. We’ve got a great hockey team and we really think that we’ve got a chance to compete for a title this year.”
Crandall’s knack for scoring against NCHC teams is only getting more valuable as the season winds down.
With the regular season’s final three weekends putting the Bulldogs up against Miami, Omaha and next weekend’s opponent, Western Michigan, it’s already starting to feel like playoff hockey for UMD.
“I think everyone is trying to play their best hockey going into the playoffs,” Sandelin said. “It was just that kind of weekend. Both goaltenders were good. It’s great hockey.”
Coming up against a very physical Western Michigan team, UMD sits at No. 5 in the NCHC standings. They’ll need to perform at their best in Kalamazoo and hope to see either Denver or Omaha fall this weekend if they hope to claim home ice for the first round of the playoffs.
According to Crandall, however, it doesn’t matter where they play. His team will be ready.
“It’s always fun being at home, but we’ve been good on the road and we’re not afraid to go there,” Crandall said. “We know whoever we play, whether it’s here or there, that it’s going to be a tight series.”
BY NICOLE BRODZIK
Sports Editor