Two losses to Minnesota exposed defensive and goaltending problems for North Dakota and pushed the Fighting Hawks down the rankings. But a demanding three-game stretch against highly ranked Michigan State and Western Michigan offers a quick chance to recover—and could shape UND’s postseason outlook.

By the Numbers
  • UND lost both games to Minnesota, 5-3.
  • UND fell to No. 18 in the NPI; Michigan State is No. 4 and Western Michigan is No. 7.
  • UND has three games over the next two weekends: one against Michigan State and two against Western Michigan.
Yes, But

The Minnesota losses were a real setback, and the team’s defensive play and goaltending need to improve. Still, UND’s young goalies and defensemen show promise, and strong results in the upcoming games could quickly brighten the team’s outlook.

What's Next

UND faces Michigan State in Saturday’s Hall of Fame Game in Austin, Texas, then hosts Western Michigan for two games the following weekend. Winning at least two of the three could lift UND in the rankings; a weaker showing would make a postseason run more dependent on winning the conference and NCAA regional tournaments.

Bottom Line

The losses sting, but the next three games are an immediate test of whether UND can shore up its defense and keep its postseason ambitions on track.