Fourth-ranked North Dakota controlled the ice in front of both nets and gritted out a 6-4 road win over Colorado College on Saturday.
The Fighting Hawks fought their way to the front of the Tigers net, from where they scored all four of their goals during a run-and-gun second period that put UND ahead 5-3 and set themselves up for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference series split.
“We just made sure we had a harder mentality all around,” UND coach Brad Berry said. “Our guys did a good job of making those nice little low plays and staying in the slot, not just passing through. It’s a tough area to go, but if you pay the price, good things will happen.”
Grant Mismash scored 51 seconds into the third on a hard shot from short range for a three-goal lead at 6-3. That clinched it at the Broadmoor World Arena.
“We got the bounces we needed and played hard down the middle,” Mismash said. “It was a good bounce-back night for us. We played hard between the dots.”
As a result, North Dakota (5-2-1, 1-1 NCHC) was able to camp out in front of CC goalie Alex Leclerc (27 saves, six goals allowed). The sophomore came into the game having stopped 71 of 72 shots in two-straight home wins over UND, when he did not face that kind of traffic in front.
In-game injuries to Nate Kwiecinski Friday and Cole McCaskill on Saturday left CC with only five healthy defensemen each night.
“It’s no excuse, but it hurt us as the game went on,” Tigers coach Mike Haviland said. “That’s will. We got out-willed in front of the net, and that’s something we haven’t seen this year. That is what we just met about (with the team captains).”
CC, picked to finish last in the eight-team league, remains off to a much better start than expected. Haviland liked how the Tigers (5-3, 1-1) battled back after falling behind 1-0 in the first period, which was dominated by UND.
But they could not tighten up defensively while ahead to slow down the talented Fighting Hawks.
“We got the momentum back (leading 2-1) and then we made some soft plays with the puck that gave them opportunities,” Haviland said. “You cannot do that in this league.”
Four different North Dakota players scored in the second, while Shane Gersich, Rhett Gardner and Christian Wolanin all recorded two assists apiece through 40 minutes.
Two of CC’s three second-period goals came on unassisted breakaways by Alex Berardinelli and Nick Halloran. Mason Bergh scored his NCAA-leading seventh goal to make it 2-1 before UND reeled off three goals in two minutes to regain control.
CC’s Trevor Gooch scored his second goal in as many games late in the third for the final margin.
The Tigers’ scoring outburst was surprising considering UND came into the series in Colorado Springs with the nation’s best scoring defense, led by senior goalie Cam Johnson (1.29 goals against). He finished with 23 saves, 11 in the third.
“Our game management when we had the lead a couple times got a little high risk there but our game was better than Friday, which has become a bit of theme for us.” Berry said. “It’s driving us crazy. It’s not like we don’t prepare for Friday nights. We have to make sure we do all the details of our game. We did a lot more of those details tonight.”
NCHC roundup
No. 1 Denver 6, No. 19 Boston College 1
The defending NCAA champions overwhelmed the host Eagles behind two goals apiece from Blake Hillman and Henrik Borgström. Dylan Gambrell added a goal and two assists.
Christopher Brown scored for 1-5-1 BC. DU goalie Tanner Jaillet made 25 saves for the win in Chestnut Hill, Mass. The 4-0-2 Pioneers open NCHC play at Western Michigan on Friday.
No. 10 Minnesota Duluth 2, Maine 0
UMD goalie Hunter Shepard recorded a 26-save shutout to lead the visiting Bulldogs to a nonconference sweep of Hockey East’s Black Bears in Orono, Maine.
Parker Mackay and Riley Tufte scored for the 4-2-2 Bulldogs, while Peter Krieger and Scott Perunovich each made two assists. UMD opens league play at undefeated St. Cloud State next weekend.
Miami 7, UConn 1
The RedHawks cruised to the nonconference sweep thanks to outscoring the visiting Huskies by a 10-1 margin in two games in Oxford, Ohio.
Miami prevailed 7-1 on Saturday behind two goals and an assist from Louie Belpedio, all during a five-goal third period, and a goal and two assists for Gordie Green. Josh Melnick added a goal and assist.
Adam Karashik scored a short-handed goal for Hockey East’s UConn. Miami (3-3) opens league play at home against CC on Friday.
