#1/2 NORTH DAKOTA at #12/11 OMAHA
Feb. 26, 2021
Baxter Arena
7:07 PM CT Friday
All-time Series: UND leads 27-14-1 (.655)
VIDEO
Web: nchc.tv
RADIO
PxP: Tim Hennessy
Analyst: Steve Olson
Radio: 790 AM | 104.7 FM & Home of Economy Radio Network
Web: FightingHawks.com
ON TAP
North Dakota will finish out the regular season with two more games against Omaha on each of the next two Fridays. It begins this week when UND makes its third trip to Baxter Arena this season for a Friday 7:07pm tilt. The regular season comes to a close a week later at the Ralph Engelstad Arena before UND will be the host of the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, which will be an eight-team single-elimination tournament this year.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
All UND men’s hockey games, home and away, can be heard on stations across the UND Sports Home of Economy Radio Network. Longtime broadcaster Tim Hennessy, in his 41st season as the voice of UND men’s hockey, calls the action while Steve Olson provides color analysis.
WELL NOW, GUESS WHAT– THIS IS HAPPENING
Ralph Engelstad Arena will serve as the host venue for the entire NCHC postseason tournament this year, announced Feb. 8. The tournament will be shifted to a single-elimination championship with all eight teams competing for the league’s autobid into the NCAA Tournament. The quarterfinals begin Mar. 12-13 with the semifinals on Mar. 15 and the title game on Mar. 16. There will not be a third-place game this season.
ALL-TIME AGAINST OMAHA
North Dakota is 27-14-1 all-time against the Mavericks, including wins in 11 of the last 15. UND has won three of the four meetings thus far, including a 4-1, 7-1 sweep last weekend in Grand Forks. Last season, the teams split the season series, 2-2. Omaha’s 6-3 win at the REA on Jan. 10 was UND’s lone blemish to its home record last season (18-1-0).
POLL POSITION
Four NCHC teams remain nationally ranked in the newest polls released Monday. North Dakota remained in the top spot in USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll and sits second in the USCHO.com poll. St. Cloud State is 6th, Minnesota Duluth holds down 10th in both polls while Omaha is 12th/11th. Western Michigan and Denver are each receiving votes in the USCHO.com poll.
FARE THEE WELL, BAXTER
North Dakota will be making its third trip to Baxter Arena in Omaha this season. UND was 7-2-1 in the NCHC pod and then split its first series with Omaha (Jan 29-30). UND is 8-3-1 (.708) in Baxter this season while Omaha is 10-5-1 (.656) in their home rink.
60% OF THE TIME, IT WORKS EVERY TIME
The Omaha penalty kill unit had allowed just six power play goals all season coming into last weekend’s series at REA. UND scored a PPG Friday in a 4-1 win then went 3-for-5 with the man advantage Saturday in the 7-1 rout.
I LOVE LAMP!
UND’s seven-spot Saturday was the eighth time the Fighting Hawks have scored five goals or more this season (8-0-0).
I DON’T KNOW HOW TO PUT THIS, BUT I’M KIND OF A BIG DEAL
Jasper Weatherby has been on a tear lately, scoring in each of the last six games. In that stretch, the junior forward has seven goals and a pair of assists for nine points.
THE HUMAN TORCH IS DENIED A BANK LOAN
Adam Scheel has allowed one goal seven times and posted four shutouts this season, giving him half of his starts (11-of-20) where the opposition has one goal or fewer. In his career, Scheel has now either shutout an opponent or only allowed one goal in nearly half of his appearances (34 of 72 appearances).
I DON’T KNOW IF YOU HEARD ME COUNTING– I DID OVER A THOUSAND
UND is batting 1.000 when it comes to the penalty kill at home. All 24 opponent power plays have been wiped clean.
BOY, THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY
Collin Adams is on a five-game point streak, scoring three times and adding four assists in that stretch. He recorded his first three-point night of the season (2-1–3) in the 7-1 win Saturday over Omaha, figuring in each of the last three goals.
IT’S SCIENCE
North Dakota is 16-0-0 when it scores first this season, including last Saturday’s 7-1 win over Omaha. When the opponent strikes first, UND is 1-4-1.
I IMMEDIATELY REGRET THIS DECISION
North Dakota’s opponents have to have some regret upon entering the REA this season. UND is outscoring its opponents, 28-5, at home this season with a 6-0-0 record. Some stats that stand out in UND’s home schedule this season
*12 different UND scorers
*UND is outshooting opponents, 190-121
*UND is 8-for-30 on the power play
*Opponents are 0-for-24 on the power play
*UND is outscoring teams, 13-3, in the second period
*North Dakota has not allowed a third period goal at home
*UND has allowed just 26 SOG at home in the third period over the 6 games.
*Collin Adams has 10 pts (4 G, 6 A)
*Shane Pinto has 7G, 2 A
*Jake Sanderson is a +8.
*Adam Scheel has a 0.60 GAA, .970 save pct. and a 5-0-0 record
*UND is 24-1-0 at home the past two seasons and has won 26 of its last 27 home games, dating back to 2018-19.
DON’T ACT LIKE YOU’RE NOT IMPRESSED
North Dakota secured its fourth Penrose Cup this season and has now won it in back-to-back seasons twice. UND has as many regular season NCHC championships as the rest of the league combined. All-time Penrose Cup (NCHC regular season champ) winners below
2021 North Dakota
2020 North Dakota
2019 St. Cloud State
2018 St. Cloud State
2017 Denver
2016 North Dakota
2015 North Dakota
2014 St. Cloud State
HEY EVERYONE, COME SEE HOW GOOD I LOOK!
Adam Scheel’s career 2.00 goals against average currently ranks at the top of UND’s record books for lowest GAA in a career. He sits well in front of leaders Cam Johnson and Zane McIntyre (2.10). His save percentage (.913) is just outside the top five in the UND record books.
UNIQUE NEW YORK
New York native Shane Pinto etched another multi-point game in Saturday’s Penrose Cup-clinching win over Omaha. This gives him 11 for the season, tied for the most in the NCAA. He leads the NCHC in points (28), goals (15), PPG (7), plus/minus (+16) and faceoff percentage (.621).
I’M VERY IMPORTANT
Jackson Keane has four goals and nine assists in his career for 13 career points in 66 games overall. He’s done most of his damage against Omaha, scoring again last Friday to give him seven career points against Omaha with two goals and five assists in 12 games.
BAXTER, BARK TWICE IF YOU’RE IN OMAHA
Senior Jordan Kawaguchi has felt at home in Baxter Arena this year. He was the only player to notch a point in all 10 NCHC pod games and then he added two more games with points Jan. 29-30. For the season in Omaha, Kawaguchi has 16 points in 12 games (3G, 13A).
POWER PLAY PROFICIENCY
North Dakota’s power play has operated at a 24.1 percent (24/99) efficiency so far this season, second-best in the NCHC. UND has a power-play goal in 19 of 22 games this season, including each of the last five.
Men’s Hockey 2/24/2021 7:56:00 PM Mitch Wigness, FightingHawks.com
