Tim Skarperud had a goal and two assists, and the freshmen goaltending tandem of Josh Siembida and Jake Brandt teamed up for 32 saves as North Dakota completed a weekend sweep with a chippy 5-3 win over Michigan Tech at MacInnes Arena.
Siembida left the game midway through the third period after Michigan Tech’s Brett Engelhardt was shoved and fell on him during a scramble at the net. The details of the injury were not immediately known.
With the sweep, UND improved to 12-13-2 (7-11-2 WCHA). The Sioux leapfrogged idle Minnesota State-Mankato and moved into seventh place in the league.
“Michigan Tech came out with a lot more intensity,” said UND wing Ryan Bayda, who had two assists. “They were playing a lot more physical, were working harder, and played an all-around better game [than they did on Friday]. But when we got our chances, we buried the puck.”
The Huskies (7-17-2, 3-13-2 WCHA) outshot the Fighting Sioux, 45-32, and fired 22
shots on goal in the third period.
“[The players] were challenged and they accepted it,” said Michigan Tech head coach Mike Sertich of his team’s effort. “We grew as a team and we’ll be better for it.”
The Sioux scored the game’s first goal on a blue-collar effort by Jason Notermann at 16:40. Despite being tied up in traffic in front of the net, Notermann managed to chip a loose puck over fallen Tech goaltender Cam Ellsworth.
The Huskies returned the favor on an outstanding individual effort by Murphy at 18:45. Murphy stole the puck just inside the UND zone at the left point, carried the puck across the top of the zone, cut through the right circle, went through traffic in front of the net, and put a shot on net. Siembida stopped it, but Murphy put the rebound past him to even the score.
But as with most everything the Huskies did during the series, the Sioux had an answer for Murphy’s goal. With under a minute to play in the period, Skarperud threw an innocent-looking pass from the boards out front that Brandon Bochenski managed to tip through Ellsworth’s legs.
The Sioux took a two-goal lead 4:22 into the second period when Ryan Hale redirected Chad Mazurak’s shot from the point past Ellsworth.
A minute later, Skarperud took a long pass from Matt Jones and beat Ellsworth with a backhander to make it 4-1.
Jon Pittis beat Siembida with a slapshot from the high slot at 12:16 of the middle period, but the Huskies couldn’t get any closer.
David Hale’s shot from the point found the back of the net 3:11 into the third period to make it 5-2. Bayda and Skarperud drew assists on the goal. Skarperud finished with seven points on the weekend.
“It’s huge, especially this time of the year,” said Bayda of his line’s success. “Coming in here, this was a huge weekend for us. It’s always big to get two wins on the road. It shows a lot about your hockey club.”
