{"id":104311,"date":"2020-02-20T14:00:06","date_gmt":"2020-02-20T20:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/?p=104311"},"modified":"2020-08-24T10:46:33","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T15:46:33","slug":"this-week-in-nchc-hockey-defending-national-champ-minnesota-duluth-back-on-track-finding-ways-to-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/2020\/02\/20\/this-week-in-nchc-hockey-defending-national-champ-minnesota-duluth-back-on-track-finding-ways-to-win\/","title":{"rendered":"This Week in NCHC Hockey: Defending national champ Minnesota Duluth back on track, ‘finding ways to win’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Scott Perunovich leads Minnesota Duluth in scoring, going for 29 assists among his 33 points this season for the Bulldogs (photo: Jim Rosvold\/University of Minnesota).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It says something about how good Minnesota Duluth has been over the last three years that despite only having nine losses, there was a sense among some followers of the game that Duluth was struggling a bit this season.<\/p>\n

Partly, it may have been that the Bulldogs had been swept three times this year – by Wisconsin, Minnesota State and St. Cloud State.<\/p>\n

That last sweep happened Jan. 17-18 and snapped a six-game unbeaten streak that started after the Bulldogs had been swept by Minnesota State at the end of November. Coming off the second loss to St. Cloud, the Bulldogs were starting at two straight weekends against the top teams in the NCHC in North Dakota and Denver, plus a series with resurgent Omaha.<\/p>\n

It’s a test the Bulldogs passed with flying colors, going 5-1 and moving into sole possession of second place in the conference. Bulldogs coach Scott Sandelin admits that he didn’t expect quite that run.<\/p>\n

“We’re finding ways to win,” said Sandelin. “We had one of our best games Saturday against Denver, a little bit more of a 60-minute game. After that St. Cloud weekend, we were staring at North Dakota, Denver, Omaha before the break and I’m not sure if you told me were going to go 5-1, I’d believe you, but we did. Sometimes when you play those teams, they help bring a little bit more of your best, too.<\/p>\n

“Our backs were a against a wall after that weekend at St. Cloud. Our guys stepped up and played pretty well. We’re still striving for that more consistent game over 60 minutes, but hopefully, that’ll come. I think those three weekends helped our confidence level.”<\/p>\n

Sandelin points to the special teams and the play of goaltender Hunter Shepard, who has been a key part of Duluth’s back-to-back national championships. Shepard has played all 28 games so far, and while his stats haven’t quite been at the level of the previous two seasons, Shepard seems to be tightening up the area around the crease.<\/p>\n

In the first game against Omaha, he was a key part of a dramatic momentum shift late in the second period, making a diving save on a wide-open net. The puck then was broken out to Tanner Laderoute, who scored on a breakaway.<\/p>\n

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.@espn<\/a> @UMDMensHockey<\/a> #SCTopTen<\/a> @Buccigross<\/a> @NCAAIceHockey<\/a> @TheNCHC<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Hd38TVN2RQ<\/a><\/p>\n

— UMD Athletics (@UMDBulldogs) February 9, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n