MANKATO, Minn.-- Sixteenth-ranked North Dakota scored four goals in a 6:44 span late in the first and into the second as the Fighting Hawks tied second-ranked Minnesota State, 4-4, Friday evening at Mankato Civic Center in non-conference play.
"I thought we took a while in the first period to get going, they scored one right away but our guys came back and found the level that we needed to get to," UND head coach
Brad Berry said. "We did a good job through the second part of the second period and all of the second, trying to manage pucks and create some offense for us and then we got away from it a little bit here. But, two good teams going at it. Some costly mistakes that led to some goals on both sides, so again tomorrow we have to learn from that and finish the game."
The home team held the advantage early, generating numerous scoring chances in the first half of the opening period. Freshman Lucas Sowder solved UND starter
Adam Scheel on an odd-man rush just 2:38 into the game with the Mavericks controlling play in the preliminary stages of this matchup.
Scheel stood tall on a few other chances and a post kept it 1-0 until a UND power-play chance late in the period. After Nathan Smith went to the box for a trip of
Shane Pinto at 18:53, North Dakota made it hurt moments later on
Westin Michaud's second goal of the season.
The senior transfer buried a rebound off the end boards to knot the score at 1-all.
Gabe Bast's point shot from the near boards whistled wide and caromed right to Michaud, who parked it past Dryden McKay gloveside for his second goal of the season and his 15th career power play marker.
UND wasted little time taking the lead, needing just 16 seconds into the second period to make it 2-1. Senior
Colton Poolman caused a turnover and the puck squirted free to
Harrison Blaisdell in the slot and he backhanded it past McKay for the Fighting Hawks lead.
Just two-and-a-half minutes later,
Jackson Keane made it 3-1 on an odd-man rush. Keane gained the zone, then dropped it for
Dixon Bowen who fed
Andrew Peski. He then threaded a pass to a waiting Keane to one-time it past McKay for North Dakota's third goal in a span of just over three minutes.
MSU would respond with a goal at the 5:18 mark but North Dakota regained the two-goal advantage on another play by Keane and Bowen. This time, Keane won a race to a loose puck, had a shot blocked but reclaimed it and fired a pass to a streaking Bowen cruising into the slot and potting it home for his third goal of the season.
It wouldn't hold up, though, as the Mavs got a goal just over a minute later and had the only tally in the third to send it to overtime. It didn't get to the extra frame without a little drama, however.
UND got a power play with seconds remaining in overtime. But, it was squandered just before the end of regulation on a North Dakota penalty and MSU got a man advantage 1:14 into the extra frame. The Mavs got a few good looks in overtime but Scheel was equal to the task, making a big stop on a point-blank shot and another on a scramble in front, part of his 20 saves on the evening.
The teams finish the series Saturday with puck dropping at 6:07 p.m.
Notes: Minnesota State had won 11 consecutive at home and 23 of its last 24 home games, averaging just over a goal allowed per game in that stretch ... Bowen has already matched his goal total from last season ... UND is now a perfect 12-for-12 on the penalty kill after killing all four MSU opportunities Friday ... UND is 2-for-12 on the power play for the season ... Michaud led all players with five shots on goal.
