Or the third.....
This is MN vs UND hockey. There is more at stake than just the scoreline (although that is a huge part of it). I have been mightily impressed by Ben Blood's ability to shake off attempts to draw him into frays. Maturity.
There job is to build up the Goofs. That means building up their opponents whoever they are, and then saying "look who we beat" if they win, and"it was a tough opponent" if they loose.