The mood after Minnesota-Duluth’s 5-4 loss to Minnesota on Oct. 15, which completed a sweep by the Gophers, was as expected.<\/p>\n
“We were not happy, especially with that happening on home ice,” said Bulldogs goaltender Kenny Reiter. “We tried to keep it in the back of our heads that that’s what happens when you don’t play a full 60-minute game both nights.”<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs haven’t lost since that sweep by Minnesota made them 1-3, and a lot of it has to do with a rejuvenated Reiter and the defense in front of him. <\/p>\n
Reiter allowed 13 goals on 88 shots (.852 save percentage) through three games at the completion of the Gophers series. He has given up just seven goals in the six games since, with a pair of shutouts on 155 shots (.952 save percentage), and the Bulldogs are 4-0-2 in that time.<\/p>\n
But it’s important to also note the UMD penalty kill, which has allowed one power-play goal over the six-game stretch on 25 opportunities. The Bulldogs’ PK went 13-for-18 in the first four games.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think it’s been as much of a difference for me but the guys in front of me have really tightened up the defensive zone and limited scoring chances,” said Reiter, the WCHA defensive player of the week whose Bulldogs host Alaska-Anchorage this weekend. “Everything has been really smooth.”<\/p>\n
Dineen PP play earns weekly honor<\/h4>\n
If Colorado College scored a power-play goal last weekend at Nebraska-Omaha, Nick Dineen was part of it. The senior earned WCHA offensive player of the week honors. <\/p>\n
Dineen scored two power-play goals in Fridays’s 7-5 loss. He scored another goal on the man advantage Saturday night and then assisted on two more power-play goals. The only even-strength goal he was part of was CC’s last goal Saturday. The Tigers’ PP allowed a short-handed goal in each game but Dineen was on the ice only for the goal Saturday.<\/p>\n
Dineen has been one of CC’s top-line centers going back to last season and has played a key role on a CC power play that brings a lot of attention to the Schwartz brothers, Jaden and Rylan. The Tigers power play finished 2010-11 first in the WCHA and is second in the conference this season, behind Minnesota, at 27.3 percent.<\/p>\n
Minnesota State freshman winger Jean-Paul LaFontaine’s offensive burst Saturday night helped the Mavericks salvage a split at Michigan Tech. His two goals and an assist also helped him garner WCHA rookie of the week honors.<\/p>\n
Goofy goal in Houghton<\/h4>\n
Michigan Tech’s goal in a 1-0 shutout of Minnesota State last Friday wasn’t planned. It was a dump-in from the red line. But the puck took an awkward bounce on the ice in front of Mavericks goaltender Austin Lee.<\/p>\n