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DULUTH — Minnesota Duluth spent Friday night honoring college hockey’s best player from last season, then showed why the fifth-ranked Bulldogs may have much more than one star to lean on this winter.
UMD scored four unanswered goals after falling behind early in the third period and defeated Long Island University 7-4 in its season opener at AMSOIL Arena.
Jayson Shaugabay, Hunter Anderson, Ty Hanson and Callum Arnott each had a goal and two assists as the Bulldogs produced six multipoint scorers and overwhelmed the Sharks with their depth down the stretch. Adam Kleber added a goal and an assist, while reigning Hobey Baker Award winner Max Plante contributed two assists on a night that began with UMD honoring him in a pregame ceremony.
The Bulldogs entered the third period tied 3-3 despite holding a 26-13 advantage in shots, then found themselves trailing 4-3 when LIU scored 3:08 into the period.
UMD’s response was immediate.
Shaugabay tied the game just 18 seconds later, beginning a four-goal closing surge. Luke Bibby redirected a Hanson shot from the point at 13:57 for the eventual game-winning goal, and Arnott scored on the power play less than a minute later to give the Bulldogs a 6-4 lead.
Hanson finished the scoring with a shorthanded empty-net goal with less than 22 seconds remaining.
The victory gave UMD back-to-back season-opening wins and offered an early look at the offensive balance coach Scott Sandelin expects from a veteran-heavy roster.
“I thought we found our game a little bit after the first five minutes, got a goal and then we got another goal and had opportunities to make it more and we didn't,” Sandelin told the UMDBulldogs.com after the game. “The second period was, you know, I'm not sure what we were doing. We got away from a simple game, got a little too cute.”
Newly acquired senior forward Barrett Hall opened the scoring at 8:03 of the first period, finishing a feed from Anderson for his first goal as a Bulldog. Shaugabay also assisted on the goal for his first point of the season.
Kleber doubled the lead about a minute later, taking a high-low feed and beating LIU goaltender Daniel Duris high. Hanson and Arnott picked up assists as UMD carried a 2-0 advantage into the second period.
The Sharks erased that lead behind two goals from Luc Bydal just more than three minutes apart, tying the game at 2-2.
Anderson restored UMD’s lead at 14:01, converting a one-timer from the slot after Max Plante drove toward the net and found him with a pass. LIU again answered late in the period, capitalizing on a breakdown around the Bulldogs’ net to send the teams into the second intermission tied.
UMD had controlled much of the play through 40 minutes without separating itself on the scoreboard.
That changed after LIU briefly grabbed the lead in the third.
“Even at the end, a lot of one on one, you know, talk about just getting back to it, more of a simple direct game, in the third period.” Sandelin said. “I like that we had to face a little adversity right away, guys responded. We had a better third period, but that's where you play and certainly a lot easier when you win to teach. We've got a lot of things to keep working on and get better.”
Junior goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir made 19 saves to earn the victory. Duris stopped 29 shots for LIU.
The Bulldogs finished with a 36-23 advantage in shots on goal and went 1-for-6 on the power play. UMD killed all four LIU power plays and added Hanson’s shorthanded empty-net goal.
The individual production was spread throughout the lineup. Kleber finished with two points, Max Plante had two assists, and Zam Plante and Arnott shared the team lead with five shots on goal. Hanson finished a game-high plus-4.
For a team that opened the night by raising a banner recognizing Max Plante’s Hobey Baker Award, the larger message from opening night may have been what happened around him.
UMD did not need its reigning national player of the year to carry the offense.
The Bulldogs had scoring from defensemen, newcomers and returning forwards, four players with three-point games and enough firepower to turn a one-goal third-period deficit into a three-goal victory.
UMD (1-0) and LIU (0-1) complete the nonconference series Saturday at AMSOIL Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:07 p.m.
