Preview: Overtime is a good bet in UND-Bemidji State series
· Yahoo Sports
Oct. 9—GRAND FORKS — UND and Bemidji State players probably should be prepared to work a little extra this weekend.
They've played at least one overtime game in each of the last eight series.
Visit playerbros.org for more information.
The last time UND and Bemidji State did not have an overtime game in their two-game set was 2016-17. UND needed a Brock Boeser penalty shot late in the third period to avoid it.
The Fighting Hawks open the regular season at 7:07 p.m. Friday in Bemidji's Sanford Center.
It will be Bemidji State's second regular-season game. The Beavers opened last weekend with a 3-2 overtime win against St. Cloud State.
"Similar to previous years, it looks like there's a lot of tenacity, a lot of competitiveness in their group," UND coach Dane Jackson said. "They've got some really good players at the top end of their lineup and then they've got a lot of competitive grit throughout."
UND has 10 rookies and 14 new players on the roster this season. Jackson has tried to emphasize to them how fast and physical it's going to be.
"It seems like every time we play that game, we really have to remind our guys for the level of how quickly things happen," Jackson said.
A year ago, UND won a back-and-forth game in Bemidji 5-3. The Fighting Hawks sealed it with a late empty-netter.
The next night, UND won in overtime in Grand Forks.
"It's obviously going to be a challenge for us," UND defenseman Sam Laurila said. "They buzz around, so we've got to be ready to go for puck drop."
UND: D Bauer Dumanski probable (upper)
BSU: None known
If there's one difference between this Bemidji State team and past Beaver squads, it's that this team has a few more high-end players. Forward Oliver Peer and defenseman Hudson Thornton are both gamebreakers who will play upwards of 20 minutes. Peer had 20 goals and 36 points last season. He's an elite skater and scorer.
Freshman defenseman Carson Carels showed why he has so much promise last weekend, scoring a goal in each exhibition game. This weekend, it could be Ethan MacKenzie's turn to show why he can get things done at both ends of the rink with his elite skating.
We'll find out Friday night if UND's 10 freshmen are ready for the pace and physicality Bemidji State will bring in the Sanford Center. Either way, overtime is always a good bet when these teams play.
Friday: Bemidji State 4, UND 3, OT
Saturday: UND 4, Bemidji State 1
Friday (7:07 p.m.)
Stream:
Midco Sports Plus (CCHA).
Radio:
The Fox (96.1 FM).
Saturday (6:07 p.m.)
TV: Midco Sports (GF Ch. 27/622 HD).
Stream:
NCHC TV.
Radio:
Cat Country (100.3 FM).
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