North Dakota Beats Minn. St., Mankato 4-2
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Danny Kristo scored two goals and Corban Knight assisted on two goals as North Dakota beat Minnesota State, Mankato 4-2 on Friday in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
Stephane Pattyn's fourth goal of the season at 15:04 of the first period was the game-winner for the Fighting Sioux (19-12-3, 15-11-1), who are 15-5-2 in their last 22 games.
Michael Parks had the other goal for UND, which is assured of home ice in the first round of the upcoming WCHA playoffs.
Aaron Dell made 25 saves for UND and Phil Cook had 20 stops for the Mavericks (12-21-2, 8-17-2). The victory was Dell's 44th, tying him for 10th place on the school's all-time win list.
Matt Leitner and Josh Nelson had goals for MSUM.
"We made enough plays at the right time to win the hockey game," North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol said. "They are a tough team to play."
Leitner gave the Mavericks a 1-0 lead, but it lasted just more than two minutes before Kristo, Parks and Pattyn netted first-period goals for the Sioux.
After Nelson cut the lead to one, Kristo gave UND an insurance goal.
"We probably played our best hockey after they made it a one-goal game," Hakstol said.
J.P. Lafontaine had his four-game scoring streak snapped.
UND will host the first round of the WCHA playoffs for the 10th straight year, the longest active streak in the WCHA.
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