Sometimes, great teams are defined by how they just find ways to win.
UMD is a great example of this. Despite not overwhelming any opponents in the NCHC pod, here are the Bulldogs at 4-0, the first time a UMD men’s hockey team has started the season 4-0 since 1989-90.
The latest win, Tuesday’s 4-2 triumph over Miami, saw UMD fall behind for the fourth time in as many games, before scoring twice in the second period, then adding two late goals after Miami tied it up in the third with a strong start to the period.
There have been warts, especially in the defensive zone. The Bulldogs were better there on Tuesday, but only to a certain extent. UMD had issues dealing with Miami’s swarming forecheck for the first half of the third period, outshot 5-0 in the third at one point, including the tying goal, where Matthew Barbolini’s centering pass bounced off defenseman Wyatt Kaiser and by freshman goalie Zach Stejskal.