BUFFALO, N.Y.--   Canisius withstood another onslaught of North Dakota shots and survived, 2-1, Saturday evening at HARBORCENTER in the non-conference finale. 

North Dakota (9-9-1) fired 49 shots on goal at new Golden Griffin netminder Matt Ladd and he stopped 48 of them to earn his first win in a Canisius (8-9-2) uniform after joining the team at the semester break. All told, UND peppered Canisius goalies with 82 shots on goal on the weekend, but the Griffs were able to eke out a pair of wins. 

"We started the right way and we played for 60 minutes, but when you're not scoring goals, everything gets magnified," UND head coach Brad Berry said. "We've got to make sure we leave here with the right attitude as we get back to the NCHC and stay together as a group." 

North Dakota dominated play early and throughout the first period, out-shooting Canisius, 14-0, midway through the frame. At the 15:21 mark, Nick Jones slammed home a rebound off a Jacob Bernard-Docker point shot for a power play goal and a 1-0 lead. 

Canisius would answer two minutes later, however, when Felix Chamberland tucked one in on the back door on a two-on-two rush. Through the first period, UND owned a 23-2 advantage in shots on goal but the scoreboard remained dead-locked at 1-apiece. 

In the second, Canisius dodged several bullets with the Fighting Hawks having a handful of chances that proved harmless to keep it tied. With 6:15 left in the frame, North Dakota had a host of opportunities until Ladd was finally able to pounce on a loose puck and cover it to thwart the scoring chance. 

It went to the final period tied, and just as it did Friday, turned in the favor of the home team on an early goal in that frame. This time, Canisius' Grant Meyer put one home just under 90 seconds into the third period as the Griffins claimed a 2-1 lead to follow the same script on the second straight night. 

Ladd made it hold up, denying every UND effort at an equalizer, standing tall with 48 saves on the night and 16 in that final period. 

"These guys are prideful. We didn't have the start we wanted yesterday, but you saw how they were playing in that first period tonight," Berry said. "It's about those 26 guys in that locker room right now and this team and this staff and we have to pull together to make sure it gets going in the right way again here.  At the University of North Dakota we've handled success the right way, but when there's adversity, you really see what happens-- you'll see guys that are going to dig in here or the next three months."

North Dakota returns to NCHC play at home, hosting Colorado College  next Friday and Saturday.

NOTES:
*Jones' PPG was UND's first since Nov. 24 vs. Alaska Anchorage
*UND's 23 shots in the first period were the most in a single period all season
*The Hawks' 49 SOG were easily the most of this year (prev. high - 41 vs. UAA Nov. 23).