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GRAND FORKS, N.D. — No. 3 North Dakota picked up the sweep over No. 17 Miami in a dramatic 4-3 overtime win off the stick of Grand Forks native Luke Johnson at Ralph Engelstad Arena Saturday night.
Johnson scored from a ridiculous angle out of the corner of the RedHawks zone as the puck bounced off the inside of Miami goaltender Ryan McKay’s leg pad and into the net for the North Dakota win.
“We always preach to our guys about getting pucks to the net,” said North Dakota coach Brad Berry. “But he’s got such a quick and heavy shot (Johnson) that sometimes it catches goaltenders off, and I think that’s what it did tonight.”
North Dakota opened up the scoring just 51 seconds into the first period with a tip-in goal from freshman Brock Boeser after Tucker Poolman took a shot from the point. The goal marks the seventh of the year for the Vancouver first-round pick.
North Dakota dominated the first period of play, outshooting Miami, 13-4. It wasn’t until late in the second period that the RedHawks were able to make things interesting.
Jack Roslovic set up Louie Belpedio for a one-timer late in the RedHawks’ second power play of the night, tying the game up with less than five minutes remaining in the second.
Roslovic continued to provide challenges for UND. Just two minutes after helping on the tying goal, he walked around North Dakota defensemen Keaton Thompson with a beautiful between-the-legs move and set up the easy tap-in goal for Sean Kuraly.
Miami carried its lead into the final period of play, but North Dakota answered just over five minutes in. North Dakota senior Drake Caggiula created a two-on-one in the Miami zone, setting up Rhett Gardner, who tied the game at two.
North Dakota continued to apply pressure after the Gardner goal, creating a plethora of scoring chances, but was unable to break the tie. A breakdown in the North Dakota defensive zone allowed Josh Melnick to get open for a tap-in goal as the RedHawks took the lead with just over five minutes remaining in the final period of play.
With pressure on, Berry pulled goalie Matt Hrynkiw with 2:25 left in the game. With 1:34 left, Nick Schmaltz picked up a bouncing puck in the slot and fired a backhanded shot past McKay, tying the game at three.
North Dakota, now (9-1-2, 4-0-0 NCHC), will travel to St. Cloud State next weekend, while the (5-6-1, 2-4-0 NCHC) RedHawks will host Omaha.
