The Seawolves aren't certain they can provide a definitive answer to that puzzler, but they figure their stirring 2-1 win over No. 2-ranked North Dakota on Saturday night at least furnished some clues.
Turns out sheer hard work, attention to detail, consistency, sacrifice and smarts can make the difference between humiliation and happiness in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. UAA didn't exhibit any of those qualities to a meaningful degree in Friday's 5-0 dismantling by the Fighting Sioux, but showed them in abundance Saturday at Sullivan Arena and issued the Sioux their first loss this season.
"Winning puck battles, taking assignments on face-offs, not turning over the puck, out-competing them, not taking undisciplined penalties,'' said UAA assistant captain Josh Lunden, ticking off the attributes his club delivered. "Those are the little things that it takes to win in this league.''
Cases in point were both Seawolves goals.
Kevin Clark's team-leading fourth strike, just 29 seconds into the second period to furnish UAA a 1-0 lead, came after Clark's persistence prevented Chay Genoway, North Dakota's skilled and shifty defenseman, from getting the puck out of his zone in a battle between Manitoba boys.
"Little guys can't get away from little guys with little guys' moves,'' the 5-foot-9 Clark said of his like-sized opponent.
Clark's hounding freed the puck to Lee Baldwin at the left point and the defenseman fed it back down low to Clark. He wheeled behind the net on his backhand and stuffed a shot past North Dakota goaltender Brad Eidsness (18 saves).
Less than six minutes later, UAA defenseman Kane Lafranchise scored a goal on a power play that was set up when winger Tommy Grant's hustling pursuit of a loose puck in North Dakota's zone forced Sioux defenseman Ben Blood to take a holding penalty.
On the ensuing man advantage, Lunden, Baldwin and Daniel Naslund all won puck battles along the right-wing wall to keep the puck in the zone. And Grant, stationed below the right-wing circle, fed Lafranchise in the high slot, where he unleashed a wrister through Lunden's screen for a 2-0 Seawolves lead.
The turnaround for the Seawolves (3-3-0, 1-1-0 WCHA) stemmed from a dramatic upswing in their play from Friday and some leveling off by the Sioux (4-1-1, 2-1-1 WCHA), who were very average Saturday after generating an electric performance Friday.
North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol said the Seawolves played with resolve Saturday and his club basically took the second period off.
"It stings when you get your ass kicked one night and, sometimes when you have success, you take it for granted,'' Hakstol said.
Friday's loss didn't sting the Seawolves so much as it stabbed their self-esteem, which made a better effort on Saturday mandatory.
"Obviously, I was embarrassed for myself and for my team,'' Clark said. "Everyone wanted to prove to ourselves, our fans, our coaches, we can compete in this league. And we proved that.''
From late in the first period to late in the second period, the Seawolves permitted the Sioux just two shots on goal, and they held the visitors to just 23 shots in all. That's after North Dakota rifled 17 shots on net in the first period alone Friday.
"It's not going to be easy in this league, and we learned that quickly,'' said UAA junior goalie Bryce Christianson. "A lot of guys took that (loss) personally, and were called out for it, and responded.
"(Friday) we didn't have the grit and hard work, and if we don't bring those every night, we can't expect to come out on top. Tonight, we did those little things -- won puck battles, moved our feet, didn't take lazy penalties, blocked shots, especially in desperation times. As a goaltender, you can't complain -- guys are doing my job for me.''
Christianson's start was just his second this season. His first came two weeks ago, when Michigan, then ranked No. 3 in one poll and No. 4 in another, strafed UAA 6-1. Saturday, Christianson stopped 22 shots.
The Seawolves killed consecutive penalties late, beginning with about seven minutes left.
North Dakota finally threatened with 86 seconds left and Eidsness on the bench for an extra attacker. Darcy Zajac scored from the slot on a rebound to give the Sioux hope.
And although the Sioux used six attackers again in the final 68 seconds, they were unable to generate a scoring chance in the last 30 seconds.
That left the Seawolves winners, one night after being woeful, all of which made for a weekend tough to explain.
"That's hockey,'' Lunden said with a grin.
Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.
UND 0 0 1 -- 1
UAA 0 2 0 -- 2
First Period -- None. Penalties -- Parkinson, UAA (tripping), 6:23; Malone, UND (kneeing), 15:37.
Second Period -- 1, UAA, Clark 4 (Baldwin, Lunden), :29; 2, UAA, Lafranchise 1 (Grant, Naslund), 6:06 (pp). Penalties -- Blood, UND (holding), 4:21; Lunden, UAA (holding), 7:32; Gregoire, UND (tripping), 8:05; Lamoureux, UND (elbowing), 12:47; Clark, UAA (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:12; Blood, UND (roughing), 15:12; MacWilliam, UND (interference), 18:05.
Third Period -- 3, UND, Zajac 1 (Lamoureux, Toews), 18:34. Penalties -- Hunt, UAA (hooking), 13:14; Leinweber, UAA (cross-checking), 15:16.
Shots on goal --UND 8-3-12--23. UAA 6-8-6--20.
Power-play Opportunities -- UND 0 of 4; UAA 1 of 5.
Goalies -- UND, Eidsness, 3-1-1 (20 shots-18 saves). UAA, Christianson, 1-1-0 (23-22).
A -- 3,715 (6,251). T -- 2:12.
Referees -- Tim Walsh, Scott Bokal. Linesmen -- Scott Sivulich, Steve Glines.
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