North Dakota UND 22-11-1, 17-5-1

Omaha UNO 20-15-0, 10-13-0

North Dakota UND

22-11-1, 17-5-1

Final

Mar. 04, 2022

Omaha UNO

20-15-0, 10-13-0

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	OT 1	F
North Dakota UND	2	2	0	1	5
Omaha UNO	1	1	2	0	4

Summary
Box Score

Mark Kuhlmann, UNO Athletics

Game Recap: Men's Hockey | 3/4/2022 11:06:00 PM | Alec Stocker Johnson, FightingHawks.com

Three-peat! UND claims third straight Penrose Cup in overtime

UND becomes first team in league history to win three straight league titles

OMAHA, Neb. -- At the beginning of the season, the league's media are asked to vote on how they believe the teams will finish in the league standings at the end of the year. Only one brave writer from Omaha called for a three-peat for North Dakota, and he was in the building to watch the fourth-ranked Fighting Hawks defeat No. 20 Omaha, 5-4, in overtime to capture the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's regular season crown for an unprecedented third straight season.
Tyler Kleven's goal just 1:28 into overtime gave North Dakota (22-11-1, 17-5-1-1-1-1 NCHC) at least a share of the Penrose Cup and the opportunity to secure the top seed for next weekend's quarterfinals with a point in Saturday's finale against Omaha (20-15-0, 10-12-0-2-1-0 NCHC).
UND becomes the first team in league history to claim the Penrose Cup in three straight years and its fifth overall in the nine-year history of the league. Overall, this marks the 20th league title in program history and the second time that the green and white have three-peated.
It didn't come easy for the Fighting Hawks, with Omaha overcoming a two-goal deficit in the third period for the second straight game between the two to force overtime. Earlier this year, it was the Mavericks who won in the 3-on-3 session, but Kleven handed the visitors their first win in extra time this season.
Two goals from Jake Schmaltz alongside a pair of helpers from both Connor Ford and Ashton Calder led the way offensively for UND, but it was the depth that showed once again in the victory. Six forwards and four defensemen found the scoresheet, including goals from Kleven and Cooper Moore, while Zach Driscoll stopped 26 shots.
Special teams played a role as well, with the team's combining for 13 power plays,. a trio of goals on the man advantage and a game-tying goal with the net empty.
UND jumped out to the early lead when Schmaltz feathered a puck through a bevy of screens just as a power play ended to make it 1-0 just 8:45 into the contest. The goal snapped a 13-game goal drought for the freshman, but gave him points in four of his last six games.
After Omaha tied the game at 1-1, penalties took over the game. Joey Abate was assessed a five-minute major for boarding and a pair of additional calls to each side gave UND a 4-on-3 man advantage. There, it took only 11 seconds for Luke Bast to find Moore for a rocket over the glove of Austin Roden to restore the lead, 2-1, after one period.
Still on the major power play entering the second, Griffin Ness extended the lead to 3-1 after Carson Albrecht forced a turnover and allowed the sophomore to squeeze one through Roden just 1:44 into the second. Matt Miller brought the Mavs back within a goal, 3-2, just over two minutes later, but Schmaltz's second of the night gave UND a 4-2 lead after two.
From there, it was all Omaha. The hosts fired 16 shots on goal in the third period towards Driscoll, with two finding the back of the net to knot the contest at 4-4 and send the game into overtime.
In the OT session, the senior made two sparkling saves just moments before Kleven wired a wrister through Roden to clinch the league title and send the largely green faithful in the stands into a frenzy.
North Dakota will go for the outright title tomorrow night at 7:07 p.m. from Baxter Arena against Omaha.
NOTES: Jake Schmaltz scored two goals tonight for the first time since Oct. 9 vs. Niagara ... The win by UND was the first in overtime this year ... The Hawks finished with a 35-30 shot advantage, but the Mavs held an 18-5 lead during the third and OT ... UND went 2-for-7 on the power play while Omaha went 1-for-6 ... UND has now won seven straight games and has points in 11 consecutive ... Connor Ford went 25-9 in the dot to help UND finish with a 39-28 advantage ... The title is the 20th in program history and the third straight ... This marks the second time in program history that UND has three-peated (1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00) ... Ashton Calder reached 100-career points with his two assists ... Driscoll has now won a career-high seven straight starts.

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Scoring Summary
Scoring Play	Home Team Score
1st Period		UND	UNO
08:45	UND - Schmaltz, Jake Assisted by Jandric, Chris, Ford, Connor	1	0
12:33	UNO - Berg, Cameron Assisted by Mueller, Ty	1	1
18:36	UND - Moore, Cooper Assisted by Bast, Luke, Calder, Ashton	2	1
2nd Period		UND	UNO
01:44	UND - Ness, Griffin Assisted by Albrecht, Carson	3	1
04:14	UNO - Miller, Matt Assisted by Randl, Jack, Tychonick, Jonny	3	2
17:07	UND - Schmaltz, Jake Assisted by Calder, Ashton	4	2
3rd Period		UND	UNO
08:49	UNO - Conley, Kevin Assisted by Ward, Taylor, Tychonick, Jonny	4	3
19:04.0	UNO - Ward, Taylor Assisted by Weiss, Tyler	4	4
4th Period		UND	UNO
01:28	UND - Kleven, Tyler Assisted by Costantini, Matteo, Ford, Connor	5	4