Minnesota Beats North Dakota 3-2
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) -- Nico Sacchetti's power-play goal early in the third period lifted Minnesota to a 3-2 win over rival North Dakota on Friday.
Sacchetti slapped a deflected puck past Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell at 4:45 of the third period, helping the Golden Gophers (10-8-3, 7-7-2 WCHA) snap second-ranked North Dakota's seven-game winning streak.
"This was a big one, but we didn't come here to win one game," Sacchetti said. The series concludes Saturday.
The loss dropped second-ranked North Dakota into a first-place tie with Minnesota Duluth.
Mike Hoeffel and Jake Hansen staked the Gophers to a 2-0 lead after one period. But the Gophers, improved to 9-1-2 when scoring the game's first goal, blew the advantage before getting the game winner.
"We didn't show up for the battle in the first 20 minutes," North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol said. "We weren't at the level we needed to be and that led to undisciplined penalties ... The first 20 minutes cost us two points in our building."
North Dakota (16-6-2, 11-4-0) tied it early in the third period on a power-play goal by Jason Gregoire. Brad Malone also scored for the Sioux at 13:54 of the second period.
A hit on Minnesota's Kevin Wehrs as time ran out in the second period triggered a melee that included several players from each team. The third period started with teams skating short. Less than five minutes into the third, Sacchetti scored.
Both teams had two power-play goals.
North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol said crucial penalties hurt the Sioux.
Dell made 26 saves for North Dakota and Kent Patterson had 35 stops for the Gophers, whose top goalie, Alex Kangas, had season-ending hip surgery.
WCHA goal-scoring leader Matt Frattin of North Dakota had his eight-game goal scoring streak snapped.
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