GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Senior Connor Gaarder doesn't score a lot of goals for his University of North Dakota hockey team, just eight in 37 games this season to be exact.

But the reputation that the senior center from Edina, Minn., has earned as "Big Game'' Gaarder came to the front again tonight at a perfect time for his team.

Gaarder's eighth goal of the season with 82 seconds remaining in regulation play lifted UND to a 3-2 National Collegiate Hockey Conference victory and a sweep of the first-round playoff series with Colorado College at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Gaarder drove to the net on a 2-on-1 rush with freshman wing Austin Poganski and dove to tip in the centering pass past the right shoulder of CC goalie Tyler Marble (28 saves). That sent UND to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff at the Target Center in Minneapolis next weekend.

Gaarder's fifth goal in the last six games gave UND (27-7-3) a sweep of the six games against the Tigers this season and ended the season for the Tigers (6-26-3).

Gaarder had 3 goals in his first 31 games this season. A year ago, Gaarder scored the winner in double overtime to beat Ferris State in the NCAA regional final. He then scored UND's lone goal in a 2-1 loss to No.1 seed Minnesota in the NCAA Frozen Four. How UND scored the winner was kind of a blur in Gaarder's mind right after the game.

"I don't really know, I don't know who chipped it up the wall there (Bryn Chyzyk), but Pogs (Austin Poganski) saucered one over there and (I) chipped one in there,'' Gaarder said. "I was a little surprised at first. It was a great feeling. The crowd went wild.''

UND had a battle on its hands all night against the Tigers, fighting to extend their season at least another game.

Teemu Kivahalme scored on a point shot to give CC the first lead at 15:23 of the first period. It was a goal quickly answered by the fourth goal of the season for UND defenseman Jordan Schmaltz at 16:16 on a setup from younger brother Nick Schmaltz.

UND went ahead 2-1 at 9:40 of the second period when senior wing Brendan O'Donnell one-timed a perfect pass out of the corner from senior defenseman Nick Mattson for O'Donnell's 13th of the season.

But CC tied it on a wraparound by sophomore wing Luc Gerdes off the body of UND goalie Zane McIntyre (31 saves) at 6:10 of the third period. That came two minutes after the Tigers had a killed a 5-on-3 UND power play lasting 91 seconds, limiting UND to just three outside shots on goal.

Gaarder then delivered the game-winning goal (his fifth this season) in the closing minutes to send UND on to the conference tournament for the 13th straight year.

Mattson crossed paths often with Gaarder playing youth hockey in the Twin Cities before they became classmates and teammates at UND.

"We played Triple A when we were young,'' Mattson said. "He's always been the same. He's worked for everything his whole life. It just seems that guys like that that work so hard get rewarded. It's fun to see. Nobody deserves it more than him. He's been heart and soul for us all four years.''

UND, after beating the Tigers 5-1 Friday night in the series opener, had to battle to the finish to prevail tonight. But when it was over, NCHC commissioner Josh Fenton was on hand to present the Penrose Cup as league regular-season champions to UND in front of thunderous, appreciative fans as UND closed out its final home game of the season in style.

"Guys battled hard tonight,'' Gaarder said. "We just got the job done in the third.''

And his talent for big goals?

"I don't know,'' Gaarder said. "It's hard work and puck luck, I guess."

The line of Gaarder, Poganski and O'Donnell scored two of UND's goals.

"That line was pretty good tonight,'' UND coach Dave Hakstol said. "They set momentum for us, they had good shifts time and time again.''

Hakstol said UND had its ups and downs in its play.

"Remember this,'' he said. "Colorado College was playing for its season tonight. They played hard. It was a hard game to win. I thought we had a little bit of bend tonight, but we always found a way to have an answer.''

UND will play either St. Cloud State or Western Michigan in one of two NCHC Frozen Faceoff semifinals on Friday at Target Center in Minneapolis.

UND notes: Jordan Schmaltz led UND in shots on goal with 6 followed by fellow defenseman Troy Stecher with 4 ... Stecher also blocked 3 shots to pace UND ... Gaarder was named first star by the media, O'Donnell second star and CC's Gerdes third star ... Gaarder led UND to a 35-31 edge in faceoffs, winning 12 of the 17 draws he took ... UND now is 22-0-1 in the last four years when O'Donnell scores a goal.

Virg Foss covered UND hockey for 35 seasons for the Grand Forks Herald before retiring. He's now in his 10th season of reporting on UND games exclusively for UNDsports.com.