T.J. Oshie beats Wisconsin goalie Brian Elliott, but was unable to score on this play in UND's 3-2 overtime win over Wisconsin. (Photo courtesy Larry Radloff, InsideCollegeHockey.com) |
MADISON, Wis. ? Freshman forward Darcy Zajac (Winnipeg, Manitoba) scored 1:30 into overtime to give the UND men's hockey team a 3-2 win over Wisconsin on Friday.
Zajac scored his third goal of the season came after he stole the puck from a Wisconsin defenseman behind the Badgers' net and lifted his own rebound over the shoulder of Wisconsin goalie Brian Elliott.
The win raised fourth-ranked North Dakota's record to 3-0-0, while the second-ranked Badgers fell to 1-1-1 on the night they unveiled their 2006 national championship banner.
It was the first overtime win in two years for the Sioux, who last won in overtime on Oct. 8, 2004 (4-3 at Maine). UND had gone 0-4-6 in overtime since then.
After a scoreless first period, Wisconsin took a 1-0 lead at 5:55 of the second period when Matthew Ford scored on a breakaway, beating UND goalie Philippe Lamoureux (Jr., Grand Forks, N.D.) with a backhander.
The Sioux tied it, 1-1, just under two minutes later on the power play, as Ryan Duncan (So., Calgary, Alberta) fired a wrist shot from the right circle that beat Elliott high over the left shoulder. It was Duncan's second goal of the season.
UND took a 2-1 lead at 10:04 of the second when Chris Porter (Sr., Thunder Bay, Ontario) took a pass from Andrew Kozek (So., Sicamous, B.C.) and fired a hard shot past Elliott for his first goal of the season.
Wisconsin tied it, 2-2, on a power play goal by Skille at 4:14 of the third period. Skille's wrist shot from the right circle beat Lamoureux to the short side. Skille left the game in the third period with an apparent injury.
UND outshot Wisconsin, 28-22, in the game. Both teams were 1-for-5 on the power play.
The teams will conclude their series on Saturday at 7:07 p.m.
NOTES: The Sioux have now won their first three games of the season for the first time since 2002-03, when they started 6-0-0. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for UND at Wisconsin.
Contact: Dan Benson
