Grand Forks, ND – Historically, the University of North Dakota hockey team is known for being a second half team. After losing three games in a row, to start the month of November, the UND hockey team has gotten back on track and has gone 5-3-1, since the 3-game losing streak.
With the win tonight, UND has gone 6-3-1 in the last 10 games.
UND would get on the board first at the 04:10 mark of the first period with a goal from forward Mark McMillian. Picking up assists on UND’s first goal were defensemen Troy Stecher and Nick Mattson.
UND would outshoot Northern Michigan 10-5 in the opening period.
North Dakota would break open the game with two power play goals in the second period. UND forward Luke Johnson would score a power play goal at the 09:57 mark of the second period, giving UND a 2-0 lead. Drawing assists on Johnson’s power play goal, forward Rocco Grimaldi and defenseman Jordan Schmaltz.
“I just tried to get it on net,” Luke Johnson said. “I was just lucky that it went in”
UND would strike again, to stretch the lead to 3-0 at the 16:23 mark of the second period. This time, it was a power play goal from the caption Dillon Simpson. Picking up assists were Rocco Grimaldi and Jordan Schmaltz, again.
Northern Michigan would outshoot UND 11-8 in the second period and trailed 3-0.
“I thought we had a good start,” freshman defenseman Paul LaDue said. “Second period got a little shaky at times. We buried our chances and we have to come out tomorrow with that same mentality.”
Northern Michigan would break the Zane Gothberg’s shutout bid at the 07:40 mark of the third period with a wraparound goal from Daren Nowick.
Northern Michigan appeared to have scored their second goal, on the power play, but the on-ice officials ruled that a Northern Michigan player visually impaired the goaltenders view in the crease. In essence, college hockey has the “Avery Rule” as well.
According to head coach Dave Hakstol, “(Player’s) foot was in the crease, taking away his vision. If he had been on the side of the crease and not in the goaltenders vision it would have been a good goal.”
UND would push the lead to 4-1 with a goal from by Paul LaDue. Assisting on the goal was forward Connor Gaarder. With the win, UND pushed its current winning streak to four games.
“I thought we got off to a good start,” head coach Dave Hakstol said. “We had a good first period. We had our ups and downs. I thought we played a pretty good hockey game.”
UND will go for the series sweep against Northern Michigan at 7:07 p.m. Central at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Stats of interest
With the win tonight, UND has a 7-0-1 record when leading after two period.
Tonight, UND went 2-for-4 on the power play. UND is ranked 21st nationally 17/81 (21.1)
Tonight, UND went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. UND is ranked 18th nationally 74/88 (84.1).
Over the last four games, Zane Gothberg is 4-0-0, 1.75 GAA and has a .939 save percentage.
Over the last three games freshman forward Luke Johnson has scored (3g-2a—5pts).
With the win tonight, UND’s Non-conference record is now 3-2-2
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