If defense is Minnesota Duluth's strength this season, it's been most noticeable in a lack of opposing goals.
After four games UMD has given up the fewest goals in the opening four games of a season since going to the NCAA Division I level in 1961-62.
That's given the Bulldogs an unbeaten start following a 4-2 victory over 16th-ranked St. Cloud State before 4,748 at the DECC to sweep a Western Collegiate Hockey Association men's series.
Defenseman Jason Garrison broke a 2-2 tie at 7:33 of the third period, and Andrew Carroll added an empty-net score with 17 seconds to play.
The Bulldogs (3-0-1, 2-0 WCHA) have given up five goals in four games. The 1996-97 Bulldogs allowed eight goals in their first four games. The 1971-72 team allowed nine.
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UMD's spotless penalty-killing mark took a hit 4:06 into the game as St. Cloud State scored a power-play goal on its first shot on goal. Center Nate Dey had an open net at the left edge of the crease for his team-leading third goal of the season. The Bulldogs had been 18-for-18 in the first three games and were 69-for-70 going back 13 games to last season.
Another St. Cloud State power play led to UMD's first goal. Winger Matt Greer grabbed a Josh Meyers pass in the defensive zone and hustled up the left boards to the opposing net. Goalie Jase Weslosky made a save, but Greer outfought St. Cloud State defenseman Craig Gaudet for the rebound and converted with 9:47 left.
Winger Mike Curry took advantage of his first playing time of the season to earn a goal with 1:25 left in the opening period. His backhand attempt from the right circle hit off St. Cloud State defenseman David Carlisle, stationed at the crease, and the puck deflected past Weslosky. Curry was playing in place of the injured Michael Gergen.
After going 0-for-8 on power plays in Friday's 2-1 loss, the Huskies tied the game 2-2 Saturday with a second man-advantage goal. With UMD defensemen Trent Palm and Jay Cascalenda called for minors at 6:43 of the second period, sophomore winger Andreas Nodl connected for his first goal of the season 24 seconds later 5-on-3.
Weslosky stopped Greer at point-blank range early in the third, and Garrison ultimately got his second goal of the season for a 3-2 lead.
UMD is 9-2-2 the past 13 home games.
UMD goes on the road for the first time this season in a Friday-Saturday series at No. 5 Denver (3-1).
St. Cloud State 1-1-0--2
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Minnesota Duluth 2-0-2--4
First period -- 1. St. Cloud State, Nate Dey 3 (Garrett Roe, Tony Mosey), 4:06 (pp); 2. UMD, Matt Greer 1 (Josh Meyers), 10:13 (sh); 3. UMD, Mike Curry 1 (Drew Akins, Greer), 18:35. Penalties -- Ryan Lasch, St. Cloud State (interference), :36; Trent Palm, UMD (holding), 3:40; Jay Cascalenda, UMD (interference), 5:46; Jordan Fulton, UMD (cross-checking), 9:54.
Second period -- 4. St. Cloud State, Andreas Nodl 1 (Matt Stephenson, Roe), 7:07 (5x3 pp). Penalties -- Aaron Brocklehurst, St. Cloud State (interference), 2:37; Palm, UMD (tripping), 6:43; Jay Cascalenda, UMD (high-sticking), 6:43; Meyers, UMD (roughing), 8:41; Mosey, St. Cloud State (roughing), 8:41; David Carlisle, St. Cloud State (hooking), 12:51; Stephenson, St. Cloud State (holding), 16:44; Meyers, UMD (interference), 19:00.
Third period -- 5. UMD, Jason Garrison 2 (Greer, Akins), 7:33; 6. UMD, Andrew Carroll 1 (Cascalenda), 19:43. Penalties -- Kyle Schmidt, UMD (interference), 3:17; Travis Gawryletz, UMD (boarding), 8:20; Roe, St. Cloud State (boarding), 8:52; Matt McKnight, UMD (tripping), 16:28.
Shots on goal -- St. Cloud State 3-9-4-19, UMD 5-8-16-29. Goalies -- Jase Weslosky (1-2-1), St. Cloud State (29 shots-25 saves); Alex Stalock (3-0-1), UMD (19 shots-17 saves). Power plays -- St. Cloud State 2-of-9, UMD 0-of-5. Referees -- Don Adam, Timm Walsh. Assistants -- C.J. Beaurline, Tony Czech. A -- 4,748.
