The University of North Dakota continued their winning streak with a two-game sweep over non-conference opponent Bemidji State, winning 3-2 in overtime on Friday, Nov 24 and 5-0 Saturday, Nov 25. UND has won seven straight games and is second place in the polls.
On Friday, Nov 24, UND did not start the game with the first goal, instead, it was a well-timed chance by Bemidji’s Kasper Magnussen. It gave the Beaver’s a 1-0 lead. UND has regularly played from ahead this season, and it was a turn of events for the Fighting Hawks to be scored on only 1:19 into the first period. The scoring did not end there for the Beavers with Jackson Jutting potting a second goal to give Bemidji the 2-0 lead with only three minutes left in the first period. However, only one minute later UND’s Cameron Berg would answer back, cutting Bemidji’s lead in half going into the second. The final shot count in the first period was 12-8 UND.
The second period was uneventful on the score sheet. The game remained 2-1 for the whole period and into second intermission. UND would get a second chance on the powerplay in the second period after Lleyton Roed took a tripping penalty, but UND could not convert. UND did outshoot the Beavers 12-8 in the second period.
Cameron Berg scored his second goal of the night to tie the game five minutes into the third period. While the third was filled with valiant attempts by both teams to get the lead and prevent the game spilling over into overtime, none were successful, and the period ended 2-2 with UND outshooting Bemidji 7-5.
Jackson Blake would win it for UND in overtime once again, this time only 50 seconds into three-on-three play. Bemidji did not even register a shot in overtime.
On Saturday, Nov 25, the first period in Saturday’s game was vastly different than the night prior. Dane Montgomery, who has been in and out of the line up after spending all of last season injured, opened scoring for the Fighting Hawks about five minutes into the period. UND would receive three power plays in the first but could not convert on any of them, even against Bemidji’s exceptionally low ranked penalty kill. However, UND did get into penalty trouble themselves when top penalty killer, Hunter Johannes, took a five-minute major for contact to the head and other penalty killer, Louis Jamernik V, took a two-minute minor for cross checking. It gave Bemidji two minutes of 5-on-3 play and two minutes on the manned advantage to start the second period. Luckily UND was able to kill both penalties. The final shot count in the first period was 10-8 in favor of the Beavers.
Even though Bemidji still had time on the major going into the second, UND was able to change the momentum in their favor. After killing off both a 5-on-3 and a five-minute major, UND got another chance on the power play. This time they capitalized on the opportunity, and Jackson Blake stretched the lead to 2 points. The Beavers would get a chance to respond on their own power play when Riese Gaber took a penalty for cross checking. UND’s penalty kill held strong and kept the 2-0 lead going into the third. UND outshot Bemidji 10-8 in the second.
The third unlocked a flurry of scoring for the Hawks. 14 minutes into the third period Ben Strinden scored UND’s third goal of the night and it opened the floodgates. One minute later a third North Dakota native of the night, Jackson Kunz, scored to make the score 4-0, but it was not over. Garrett Pyke scored UND’s fifth and final goal of the night. It was the transfer defensemen’s first goal as a Fighting Hawk. The final score was 5-0 UND.
Next weekend, second place UND faces off against 3rd place and NCHC rival Denver. Last year, Denver swept UND both in the Ralph Engelstad Arena and in Denver. Now, UND has a chance at redemption and to make a statement win over the reigning Pennrose Champions.
Maeve Hushman is a Dakota Student Sports Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].
