We expected defense to be the determining factor of this Frozen Four matchup between the Ferris State Bulldogs and Union College Dutchmen, and that's exactly what we got in first period from Tampa, Fla. The teams combined for just 13 shots in the first 20 minutes of action. Goaltender Troy Grosenick made seven saves for the Dutchmen, matched by six saves from Bulldogs goaltender Taylor Nelson.
The game opened up a bit late in the period as each team picked up a few scoring chances, but that's all relative in this one. Both blue lines have clamped down on the opposing attack, and aside from one chance that went off the post behind Grosenick, no team has seriously threatened the net. Replay showed that even that one chance probably would have been waived off as it was deflected off of a high stick in the slot.
Stick right here for full coverage of the national semifinal between Ferris State and Union College. For coverage of the other national semifinal between Boston College and Minnesota, as well as complete coverage of the entire NCAA men's ice hockey tournament, check out our 2012 Frozen Four StoryStream.