GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Coming off two losses last weekend against a top rival was a disheartening setback for the UND hockey team, coaches and fans.

Though North Dakota and Minnesota no longer play in the same conference, the rivalry between the two schools will always be intense. Both are usually in the hunt for conference and national titles, so the expectations are high for the Fighting Hawks and Gophers every season.

A pair of 5-3 setbacks to Minnesota won't sit well in the UND camp this weekend. UND simply did not play well enough in most areas of the game to deserve better. 

But a chance for redemption awaits UND in the next two weekends and that is what UND's focus will be now.

It starts with a battle against Michigan State this Saturday in the Hall of Fame Game in Austin, Texas. The Spartans are ranked No. 4 in the National Percentage Index while North Dakota slipped to No. 18 with the two losses to the Gophers.

The following weekend, Western Michigan, currently ranked 7th in the NPI, comes to Grand Forks for two games in a series that will carry league and national importance for both teams.

So while the setbacks to Minnesota certainly sting and dropped UND to 18th in the NPI, a big opportunity awaits the Hawks in the next three games.

Win at least two of those games and the Hawks will climb the NPI rankings quickly. Anything worse than that, and UND would likely need to win its way into the Frozen Four through success in the league and NCAA regional tournaments. That's a tough road to advance through.

So it would not be wrong to say that UND's most important games of the regular season may come these next two weekends. Do well there, post-season honors are within reach. 

UND's play last weekend at Minnesota showed that the Hawks need to shore up their defensive play, through better goaltending, through better team defense. UND's young goalies and defensemen show much promise, but Minnesota took advantage of UND in both areas to earn the sweep. 

So in a sense, these next two weekends are like a mini post-season test for UND. Do well in these games, and the chances of advancing to actual post-season play take a turn on the brighter side. 

Take a look at Brad Schlossman's article on UND hockey in the Grand Forks Herald for his excellent and detailed breakdown of UND's season to date.

Virg Foss covered UND hockey for the Grand Forks Herald from 1969 through 2005 for the Grand Forks Herald. Since then, he has written about UND hockey for UND Athletic Communications. He can be reached at virgfoss@yahoo.com.