Jake Schmaltz working to break through offensively
Feb. 21—GRAND FORKS — As UND hockey players began leaving practice Wednesday in Ralph Engelstad Arena to do off-ice workouts, Jake Schmaltz skated to the north side of the rink with assistant coach Dillon Simpson.
Simpson began feeding Schmaltz one-timers.
Then, they did a catch-and-shoot drill.
The UND junior is trying to work his way out of the longest goal drought of his college career.
Schmaltz has yet to score in 26 games this season. His goal drought, going back to last season, is at 27. His last one came in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference quarterfinal Game 3 against Omaha in Baxter Arena.
Since then, he's attempted 75 shots and put 43 on net, but none have gone in.
"It's a little frustrating sometimes when you get shots and they're not falling," Schmaltz said. "But you've just got to stick with it. I know it's going to come for me. Hopefully it's a big one when it does."
Schmaltz scored in UND's preseason exhibition win over the University of Manitoba, but those don't count on the official stat sheet.
According to InStat, based on his attempts this season, Schmaltz's expected goal total right now is five.
The 6-foot-2, 186-pound center has eight assists this season. For his career, Schmaltz has 13 goals and 44 points in 99 games.
"I'm just doing what I can," Schmaltz said. "I just keep working. . . working on my shot and things like that. I know it will come."
Schmaltz, a Boston Bruins draft pick, has been an important player on the defensive side for UND.
When UND is at home, it gets last line change. That means after whistles, the opponent has to put its lines on the ice first. Then, UND can counter with whatever matchup it wants.
Schmaltz's line often gets the call to go against opponents' top players.
That was the case in the last home series, when Schmaltz, Louis Jamernik V and Ben Strinden frequently went head-to-head with the NCAA's leading scorer, Massimo Rizzo of Denver. The Fighting Hawks held Rizzo without a point that weekend and UND swept the series.
Schmaltz may get a similar assignment this weekend against Minnesota Duluth's Ben Steeves, who ranks third nationally in goals with 22.
No other Bulldog has more than eight goals.
"When we played against Denver, we did a pretty good job of shutting them down. . . that top line," Berry said. "Whether it's a checking line, whether it's one of the other lines, whether it's the D-men, you have to recognize who you're playing against. Steeves is one of their best players. He's a shooter. In open space, he can create, whether it's passing or shooting. You've got to recognize when the better players are on the ice."
Schmaltz also has been one of UND's most deployed forwards on the penalty kill.
Sophomore Dylan James is, by far, the most-used forward on the penalty kill. He's played 70 minutes, 34 seconds shorthanded this season. Jamernik (53:31) and Schmaltz (52:09) are second and third. Cameron Berg (34:33) is a distant fourth.
The penalty kill may be critical this weekend.
Minnesota Duluth's power play is converting 28.3 percent of its chances — first in the NCHC and fourth nationally behind Michigan, Princeton and Boston College.
Steeves, a sophomore, has scored 12 of Minnesota Duluth's 26 power-play goals.
"(When we have success), I think we're just being assertive," Schmaltz said of the penalty kill. "We're not waiting to see what they do. We're dictating. We're forcing pucks. We're forcing them to try to make plays through us. That's when we're at our best."
In November, UND also stayed disciplined, giving the Bulldogs just four power plays all weekend (three Friday, one Saturday).
"We've been doing a pretty good job (of not taking penalties) up until recently," Berry said.
Player SH TOI
Dylan James 70:34
Louis Jamernik V 53:31
Jake Schmaltz 52:09
Cameron Berg 34:33
Ben Strinden 29:46
Carson Albrecht 16:17
When: 7:07 p.m. Friday, 6:07 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Ralph Engelstad Arena.
TV: Midco Sports (GF Ch. 27/622 HD).
Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM).
Stream: NCHChockey.com.
