FINAL SCORE: No. 1 North Dakota 2, Vermont 0BURLINGTON, Vt. – Matt Hrynkiw stopped 27 shots for his first career shutout as top-ranked North Dakota posted a 2-0 victory at Gutterson Fieldhouse in non-conference action on Friday night. Vermont falls to 1-3-0 (0-0-0 HEA), while North Dakota remains unbeaten at 3-0-2 (0-0-0 NCHC).
Mike Santaguida finished with a career-high 39 saves in the Catamounts' net, including 33 in the first two periods, and made stops on several Grade A chances. His previous career-best was a 37-save effort in Game 3 of last year's Hockey East First Round against Maine.
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Box Score "Santa played sensational tonight. We gave up a lot of opportunities and he gave us a chance," said head coach
Kevin Sneddon. "It was an 1-0 hockey game until we got into penalty trouble. He was far and away for us the best player on the ice."
North Dakota came out strong in the first period but Santaguida registered 15 saves to keep the game scoreless. The junior made his best save on Paul LaDue six and a half minutes into the opening frame, denying the defenseman on a one-timer off a 2-on-1.
Mario Puskarich nearly gave Vermont the lead six minutes into the second. The junior collected a saucer pass from
Jarrid Privitera on a 2-on-1 but missed the net high. Brock Boeser then broke in alone off the ensuing UND clearance, but Santaguida came out aggressively to negate the rookie's chance.
It remained scoreless until the 12:25 mark of the second when North Dakota maintained consistent offensive zone pressure. Santaguida began the sequence with a sprawling left pad save at the right post on Chris Wilkie. Gage Ausmus then fired a low slapshot on target, and the rebound fell to Johnny Simonson who knocked the puck into the net from his backhand.
Brian Bowen nearly equalized shortly after for UVM, but his second chance opportunity went under the pads of Hrynkiw through the crease and missed just wide of the right post.
North Dakota capitalized on a power play chance five minutes into the third period to double its cushion. UND kept the puck in the attacking zone after UVM pulled a man back from a 5-on-3. Nick Schmaltz deked into the low left circle and dished a back door pass to Bryn Chyzyk, who quickly fired a one-timer into an open net.
Santaguida robbed Chyzyk minutes later on a shorthanded break, moving quickly from his right to left to execute a pad stop on the doorstep. Vermont pulled Santaguida with less than two minutes to play but couldn't draw a goal back.
Vermont and No. 1 North Dakota close the weekend series on Saturday (Oct. 24) at 7:05 p.m. All the action will be streamed for free in high definition on CatamounTV.com. Pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com with
Alastair Ingram and Jerry Tarrant on the call.
Saturday is Fraternity/Sorority Night at Gutterson. A select number of students that wear their organization's letters will be picked to participate in a special contest during the second intermission. Fraternity and Sorority Life will also be providing thundersticks for the student section.
