This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you may go to the hyperlink bellow: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/preview-minnesota-duluth-at-und-1and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us [ad_1] GRAND FORKS — Minnesota Duluth misplaced 4 consecutive video games on the finish of January.All of them had been in opposition to National Collegiate Hockey Conference semifinalists — two in opposition to Western Michigan, two in opposition to Denver. All 4 had been one-goal video games. Two had been additional time. Per week later, the Bulldogs blew a two-goal, third-period result in UND at house.But Zam Plante scored an additional time purpose to salvage that evening and switch Minnesota Duluth's fortunes in shut video games.Minnesota Duluth has not misplaced a one-goal recreation since then."I think we learned from that and we've been, the last month, more comfortable in games, regardless of the score," Minnesota Duluth captain Joey Pierce mentioned. "We've been able to keep our bench energy where we want it. We've been able to stick with games that are 0-0 or 1-0, whether we're up or down. I think we've learned a lot from that."Last weekend, Minnesota Duluth beat St. Cloud State on back-to-back nights by scoring an extra-attacker purpose within the remaining minute, then getting a game-winner from Plante.It put the Bulldogs into the NCHC semifinals for the primary time in 4 years.Minnesota Duluth takes on UND at 6:07 p.m. Saturday in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The winner advances to play Denver or Western Michigan within the championship recreation on March 21. "It's exciting," UND ahead Cole Reschny mentioned. "Playoff hockey in The Ralph, it doesn't get much better than that."UND has been snug in tight video games this season, too, as evidenced by its third-period numbers.The Fighting Hawks have outscored their opponents by 39 objectives within the third interval. By comparability, they've outscored opponents by 14 in first durations and 7 in second durations.This is the fifth assembly between the Bulldogs and Fighting Hawks this season. They break up collection in each Grand Forks and Duluth."They're a good team," Reschny mentioned. "Obviously, that top line has been talked about a lot, and that's going to be on our minds, and it's going to be a job that needs to get done. But the biggest part is just playing our game and sticking with what works for us." UNDDUL27-8-1Rec22-13-12NPI83.9 (third)Off3.2 (seventeenth)2.3 (eighth)Def2.5 (seventeenth)27.8 (4th)PP29.5 (2nd)82.7 (seventeenth)PK88.9 (2nd).901 (twenty sixth)SP.900 (twenty eighth)53.8 (4th)FO49.4 (thirty sixth)Note: National rank in parentheses. Categories are report, NPI rating, offense (objectives per recreation), protection (objectives in opposition to per recreation), energy play proportion, penalty kill proportion, group save proportion and faceoff proportion. UND — None identified Minnesota Duluth — None identified Minnesota Duluth participant to observe: F Zam Plante Max Plante has been the dominant participant on Minnesota Duluth's massive high line for a lot of the season, however his older brother, Zam, has been the difference-maker currently. In the final 14 video games, Zam has 11 objectives and 15 factors. Max has three objectives and 11 factors.Their linemate is Warroad's Jayson Shaugabay, whose brother, Ryan, scored the additional time winner within the Minnesota Class A state championship recreation final weekend."I was out Friday night — I was sick — so I was watching on TV," Pierce mentioned. "I remember they panned to the bench one time. You saw Zam right there. You could see this look on his face. He was so intense and so in-the-moment. I thought that was pretty special, after seeing that, how he was rewarded. "All 12 months, these guys have clearly pushed our group. It's been nice that when Max hasn't been placing the puck within the web as a lot, Zam was in a position to. It's fairly particular to be round them. They each clearly care about one another and this group a lot." Minnesota Duluth ahead Zam Plante (27) and North Dakota ahead Ellis Rickwood (29) take a faceoff on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group UND decide to click on: F Cole Reschny Last 12 months, Cole Reschny was at his finest throughout playoff hockey. He racked up 25 factors in simply 11 playoff video games with the Western Hockey League's Victoria Royals. Then, he joined Team Canada for the IIHF Under-18 World Championships and put up eight factors in 5 video games. Reschny enters the NCHC semifinals on a seven-game level streak — and he is doing all of his injury at five-on-five. Reschny has only one power-play level since Christmas.In the playoffs, generally energy performs dry up and also you want gamers who can rating at even-strength. Reschny is proving he can do this."I think it's just kind of my mindset," Reschny mentioned of why he thrives within the playoffs. "Obviously, it's the best time of year, and (I'm) trying to rise to the occasion. I think that's when I'm at my best is when the stakes get the highest. Obviously, it's more meaningful hockey. The games are going to be tighter, more tight-checking and closer. I'm just trying to do what I can to help the team and play my best hockey at the biggest time of year." UND ahead Cole Reschny protects the puck from St. Cloud State's Jack Reimann on Feb. 20, 2026, in Ralph Engelstad Arena.Russell Hons / UND athletics Minnesota Duluth has gone to additional time six instances within the final 11 video games, together with every of the final three. The Bulldogs and Fighting Hawks have gone to additional time in two of their 4 conferences this season. This matchup has additional time written throughout it. Although UND misplaced each additional time video games to Minnesota Duluth this season, these had been three-on-three. In the playoffs, overtimes are five-on-five.UND 3, Minnesota Duluth 2, OT Minnesota Duluth ahead Jayson Shaugabay (17) shoots the puck North Dakota goaltender Jan Špunar (35) on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group TV: Midco Sports. Jim Erickson play-by-play, Jake Brandt analyst, Taylor Budge and Erik Fabian on the desk.Stream: NCHChockey.com/television.Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM). Tim Hennessy play-by-play, Mike LaMoine analyst. GFH: A hallway follow battle sums up UND's aggressive nature GFH: What to learn about this week's NCHC semifinals GFH: Can anybody decelerate Minnesota Duluth's Plante brothers? GFH: UND pronounces ticket launch for Saturday's semifinal GFH: The NCHC has a brand new match format. Will it result in larger adjustments in NCAA hockey? GFH: Nick Schmaltz indicators $64-million cope with Utah GFH: Jake Livanavage leads UND's all-NCHC picks with first-team honor GFH: Four UND freshmen named to all-NCHC rookie group GFH: Weekly replace on former UND hockey gamers GFH: New broadcast group to name UND's NCHC semifinal DNT: Everything is a competition for Duluth's Hanson, Plante brothers KDAL: 9 thoughts heading into the NCHC semifinals Daily Faceoff: Updated 2026 NHL Draft rankings TSN: Cole Reschy makes Craig Button's top-affiliated prospect list Scoring29 Ellis Rickwood, sr, f, 8-26—3421 Ben Strinden (NSH), sr, f, 15-18—3317 Cole Reschny (CGY), fr, f, 5-28—339 Will Zellers (BOS), fr, f, 18-12—3026 Dylan James (DET), sr, f, 18-10—287 Mac Swanson (PIT), so, f, 11-16—2725 Abram Wiebe (CGY), jr, d, 5-22—274 Jake Livanavage, jr, d, 5-20—2518 Keaton Verhoeff (2026), fr, d, 6-14—208 Ollie Josephson (SEA), fr, f, 6-14—2015 Jack Kernan, fr, f, 9-10—1920 Cade Littler (CGY), so, f, 5-8—1327 Anthony Menghini, jr, f, 5-7—1219 Cody Croal, so, f, 7-4—1114 Tyler Young, sr, f, 5-6—116 E.J. Emery (NYR), so, d, 3-8—1113 Sam Laurila (NYI), fr, d, 1-9—1022 David Klee (SJS), fr, f, 3-3—624 Josh Zakreski, fr, f, 3-2—516 Andrew Strathmann (CBJ), so, d, 1-4—52 Bennett Zmolek, sr, d, 1-3—43 Jayden Jubenvill, so, d, 0-2—228 Dalton Andrew, so, f, 1-0—111 Ian Engel, fr, d, 0-0—035 Jan Špunar, fr, g, 0-0—031 Gibson Homer, sr, g, 0-0—01 Zach Sandy, sr, g, dnpGoaltending35 Jan Špunar, fr, 18-3-1, 1.93, .91531 Gibson Homer, sr, 9-5, 2.71, .8891 Zach Sandy, sr, dnp Scoring10 Max Plante (DET), so, f, 22-25—4727 Zam Plante (PIT), so, f, 20-25—4517 Jayson Shaugabay (TBL), so, f, 10-31—412 Ty Hanson, so, d, 8-24—3225 Callum Arnott, so, f, 11-14—2524 Scout Truman, sr, f, 13-5—1837 Grayden Siepmann, fr, d, 5-12—1711 Hunter Anderson, fr, f, 5-11—1623 Kyle Gaffney, sr, f, 3-11—1413 Daniel Shlaine, fr, f, 5-5—106 Adam Kleber (BUF), so, d, 3-7—108 Aaron Pionk (MIN), jr, d, 1-9—1022 Ryan Zaremba, fr, f, 1-7—819 Harper Bentz, so, f, 4-0—418 Joey Pierce, sr, d, 3-1—416 Blake Bechen, so, f, 0-4—45 Brady Cleveland (DET), jr, d, 0-2—238 Kyler Kovich, fifth, f, 1-0—121 Braden Fischer, jr, f, 1-0—139 Trevor Stachowiak, so, f, 0-1—130 Adam Gajan (CHI), so, g, 0-1—128 Luke Bibby, fr, f, 0-0—020 Riley Bodnarchuk, sr, d, 0-0—03 Jake Toll, fr, d, 0-0—035 Ethan Dahlmeir, so, g, 0-0—036 Cole Sheffield, fr, dnpGoaltending30 Adam Gajan (CHI), so, 17-11-1, 2.25, .90635 Ethan Dahlmeir, so, 5-2, 2.33, .91036 Cole Sheffield, fr, dnp [ad_2] This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you may go to the hyperlink bellow: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/preview-minnesota-duluth-at-und-1and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us