Minn. Duluth Beats North Dakota 5-4
DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Jack Connolly had a hand in every Minnesota Duluth goal to lead the third-ranked Bulldogs to a 5-4 Western Collegiate Hockey Association win over North Dakota on Saturday.
Connolly had two goals and three assists as Minnesota Duluth avenged Friday's 3-1 loss and beat the Fighting Sioux for the first time in AMSOIL Arena. The Bulldogs (19-7-4, 12-7-3) had been outscored 8-1 by North Dakota in their two previous games against the Sioux on home ice.
Both of Connolly's goals came on the power play, as UMD went 4-for-8 with a man advantage. Minnesota Duluth scored three times on the power play in the first period to go up 4-2.
"We dug ourselves way too big a hole. When you put yourselves in 5-on-3 situations two times in a row, you put yourselves in position to be behind," North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol said.
Connolly's last goal, at 1:46 of the second period, proved to be the game-winner.
Travis Oleksuk added a goal and two assists, and Mike Seidel scored a goal and assisted on another.
J.T. Brown scored the Bulldogs' first goal of the game early in the first period, but North Dakota took a 2-1 lead on goals by Brock Nelson and Stephane Pattyn.
Carter Rowney had two goals for the second straight night for North Dakota (16-11-2, 12-10-0). But Rowney missed an open shot at the net in the closing seconds.
"It just slid off the end of his tape ... probably missed by inches," Hakstol said.
Kenny Reiter had 29 saves for UMD, and Aaron Dell and Brad Eidsness had 26 for UND. Dell had 12 saves and gave up five goals before he was replaced by Eidsness in the second period. Eidsness had 14 stops.
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