MINNEAPOLIS – Top-ranked Minnesota erased a late deficit before striking just 21 seconds into overtime to rally past No. 7 North Dakota, 3-2, on Friday night from 3M Arena at Mariucci from Minneapolis, Minn.
UND (2-2-1) carried a 2-1 lead late into the final period, but Mason Nevers came off the bench as an extra attacker and fired one past goaltender Drew DeRidder with just 1:24 to play to send the game into an extra session.
In the overtime period, Matthew Knies was able to slip by a defenseman and tuck it through the legs of DeRidder to give the Golden Gophers (4-1-0) their second win over North Dakota in their last seven tries.
DeRidder was outstanding in net for the Fighting Hawks, stopping 35-of-38 shots tossed his way. The Fenton, Mich., native saw 15 shots in the second period and 14 in the final frame to tally his most saves in a North Dakota uniform.
Jake Schmaltz finished with two points, scoring the game's opening goal before adding an assist on Riese Gaber's power play goal late in the second period for his eighth multi-point game of his career. Gaber wired home his fourth goal of the season, third on the power play, to extend his scoring streak to three straight games.
North Dakota and Minnesota will close out the series on Saturday night from 3M Arena at Mariucci at 7 p.m.
Postgame Notes
· Minnesota finished with a 38-18 shot advantage, the most shots allowed by UND since Mar. 27, 2021 vs. Minnesota Duluth
· UND drops to 0-1-1 in overtime this season
· The Hawks finished 1-for-2 on the power play while holding Minnesota to 0-for-3
· Minnesota won the faceoff battle, 33-26, with Louis Jamernik V pacing UND with an 11-11 night
· Jake Schmaltz notched his eighth multi-point game of his career and first of the season
· Riese Gaber has scored in three straight games
· Chris Jandric picked up an assist on UND's second goal, extending his point streak to a career-long five games
· Ethan Frisch blocked four shots to lead all players
How It Happened
First Period
4:23 | UND – Jake Schmaltz opens the scoring with a beautiful tip on a Ty Famer shot to give UND a 1-0 lead
Second Period
18:37 | UM – Jackson LaCombe ties the game with a backhander that beats DeRidder
19:24 | UND – Riese Gaber answers less than a minute later with a power play goal in his normal spot
Third Period
18:36 | UM – Mason Nevers scores as the extra attacker with just 1:24 to play
Overtime
0:21 | UM – Matthew Knies wins it for Minnesota just 21 seconds into overtime
For more information on North Dakota hockey, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDmhockey.
