DULUTH, Minn. – Behind 34 saves from Hunter Shepard and a goal and assist from Joey Anderson, the No. 10 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs blanked the Miami RedHakws, 3-0, earning an important NCHC sweep at home that moved Duluth into sole possession of third place in the conference, pending the outcome of the North Dakota-Omaha game. With two weekends to go in the regular season, the Bulldogs are in position for home ice in the first round of the NCHC playoffs.
Jared Thomas put the Bulldogs in front at 9:59 of the first when he was sprung up through the middle of the neutral zone on a breakaway by a nice breakout pass from Avery Peterson. Thomas raced up the middle of the slot and beat Ryan Larkin top shelf stick side with a snap shot from between the hashmarks.
At 13:47 of the third, Duluth made it 2-0 with a strange goal. The puck came to Nick Wolff near the center of the blue line. Wolff was coming into the play from the bench, and got off a wrist shot that appeared to deflect off one Miami player and then off the right pads of Larkin and in.
Joey Anderson scored an empty-netter with 24 seconds left to seal the win.
