OMAHA, Neb. (UND) – North Dakota exploded for three goals in 1:42 span over the final six minutes of the third period to defeat No. 17 Omaha, 5-2, on Sunday night from Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb. With the win, UND (18-14-6) advances to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff for the ninth time in 10 years and will play St. Cloud State in the semifinals from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. on Friday night.

 

Griffin Ness broke a 2-2 deadlock at the 14:46 mark of the final stanza with his fifth goal of the season, sliding a puck through the legs of goaltender Simon Latkoczy to give the Fighting Hawks their first lead of the night. Moments later, Tyler Kleven broke up a play in the neutral zone and took it end-to-end before wiring it past the glove hand of Latkoczy to double the advantage before Gavin Hain capped off the offensive onslaught just 17 seconds later on a rebound from a Judd Caulfield rush to make it 5-2 in favor of the visitors. Drew DeRidder only needed to make 12 saves but stopped all three fired his way in the third period to preserve the victory and send UND into the semifinals.

 

North Dakota had a chance to grab momentum early, drawing a pair of minor penalties for a 5-on-3 advantage for two minutes; however, it was Omaha who took control with a strong kill and striking just moments later to take a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission. Special teams dominated the second period, with both sides earning multiple power play opportunities. UND was the first to strike with the man advantage, as Gavin Hain threaded a beautiful pass to Jake Schmaltz for the sophomore’s fifth goal of the season to knot the game at 1-1 just 2:36 into the stanza. After Omaha struck back near the midway point of the second, Dylan James showed off his speed again with his first-career shorthanded goal in the final minute of the period to tie the game at 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. In the third, NoDak exploded for a trio of goals to complete the rally and notch the 5-2 victory.

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WILD-COYOTES

 

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Clayton Keller’s second goal of the game at 4:09 of overtime lifted the Arizona Coyotes to a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Barrett Hayton had two goals and an assist for Arizona. Keller’s pair gave him 29 for the season and Brett Ritchie scored his eighth — and second in three games since being acquired from Calgary in a trade involving his brother Nick. Ritchie also had two assists. Karel Vejmelka had 30 saves. Minnesota tied its franchise record points streak at 13 games (10-0-3). The Wild matched the team mark (12-0-1) set from Dec. 2-29, 2016. But the Wild trails Dallas by one point (85-84) in the Central Division. Mats Zuccarello, Ryan Reaves, Matt Boldy and Connor Dewar had goals for Minnesota. Filip Gustavsson finished with 18 saves.