ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Following Friday night's 4-3 win over St. Cloud State, North Dakota players spoke of needing to be better on Saturday if it hoped to leave town with its first sweep here since 1998-99.

The host Huskies, however, had different plans.

Seventh-ranked SCSU blitzed North Dakota with six different goal scorers, scoring three times on five shots on starting netminder Matt Hrynkiw, then adding three more on 10 shots on Cam Johnson in relief.

It added up to a 6-1 NCHC win and series split, enabling the Huskies to move back into a tie with the Fighting Hawks atop the conference standings.

St. Cloud's offensive eruption took nearly 16 minutes to begin, when Patrick Newell scored on just the Huskies' second shot of the first period, a seemingly harmless shot from high in the faceoff circle that banked in off the skate of a UND defender.

The Huskies broke things open, though, with a three-goal second period, chasing Hrynkiw to the bench en route to a 4-1 lead through 40 minutes. First, Daniela Tedesco finished off a perfectly-executed 3-on-2 rush at 5:40 for his first goal of the season. Three minutes later David Morley deflected to a Newell shot for a 3-0 lead.

UND defenseman Troy Stecher beat Charlie Lindgren with a wrister from the slot at 14:21 to give UND life, but Trevor Olson was assessed a 5-minute interference two minutes later and Niklas Nevalainen scored on the ensuing power play to make it a 4-1 game.

The Fighting Hawks pressed hard in the third period, dominating zone time and outshooting the Huskies 16-7 in the frame. However, UND was unable to solve Lindgren the rest of the way, while Ethan Prow (PPG) and Grand Forks native Jacob Benson each found the net for the Huskies to round out the scoring.

Following the game, assistant captain Stecher was offering up no excuses for his team's performance.

“They deserved to win that hockey game. We were sloppy in all three zones, we weren't taking care of pucks,” said Stecher. “Everyone says we're a young hockey team. That may be true, but we've got to start maturing as a hockey group here. We've got to understand that performance is unacceptable.”

It was UND's first loss away from home this season and its most lopsided margin of defeat since the 2008 NCAA Frozen Four against Boston College (also a 6-1 game).

UND head coach Brad Berry said the 5-minute major quelled any momentum his team had gathered late in the second.

“We were pressing and had some opportunities but didn't get a timely goal. We took a five minute major. On the five minute major we didn't get a clear when we should have, they put the puck in the back of the net to make it 4-1,” said Berry.

“We lost momentum at certain times of the game where we shouldn't have,” he continued. “We didn't get some timely goals, they blocked a lot of shots, they defended pretty well and they played a little harder tonight.”

Lindgren finished with 28 saves, including a perfect 16-for-16 in the final 20 minutes. Hrynkiw was relieved midway through the second period by Johnson, who was making his first appearance since suffering a lower-body injury on Oct. 16 at Bemidji State.

“We just weren't really catching any bounces. We had a couple push-backs but they had a couple nice push-backs where they answered,” said Johnson.

Johnson was asked by a reporter to describe what the last month had been for him, unable to play due to the injury.

“Hell,” Johnson quickly replied. “It sucked. But it feels good to be back. Obviously tough circumstances, but if felt good. It's tough not playing but nothing's changed with me. 'Hrynk's' done a phenomenal job stepping in but I haven't really changed my preparation. He's done good and I'm proud of him for that.”

UND, now 10-2-2 overall and 5-1-0 in the NCHC, turns its attention to next weekend's non-conference series at Michigan State.

The series with the Spartans marks UND's final non-conference games prior to Christmas.

“We have a big week of practice ahead of us and we've got to get prepared,” said Stecher.

Notes: The Fighting Hawks outshot the Huskies 29-21 but were edged 32-27 in the faceoff circle … SCSU went 2-5 on the power play while UND was scoreless in three tries … Nevalainen, Tedesco and Lindgren were named the game's three stars … UND senior forward Bryn Chyzyk played in his 100th career game … Freshman Brock Boeser and sophomore Nick Schmaltz assisted on Stecher's goal, enabling both to extend personal point streaks: Boeser to four games and Schmaltz to five … Linemate Drake Caggiula had his point streak end at five games.