DULUTH, Minn. – No. 7 Minnesota Duluth scored four unanswered goals to beat the Omaha hockey team 4-1 on Saturday night at Amsoil Arena.

The loss and a 3-on-3 overtime win by North Dakota against St. Cloud State kept the Mavericks from clinching home ice for the first round of the playoffs.  Instead, they will travel to Grand Forks, N.D. for their first playoff meeting with the Fighting Hawks beginning Friday, March 9.

The Mavericks got out in front late in the first period.  Luke Nogard won a battle for the puck along the end wall.  He spun out for a shot that caromed in off the skate of teammate Martin Sundberg.  Sundberg was credited for his first career goal at 16:49.

The Bulldogs took over the game in the second period.  Karson Kuhlman tied the game with a power play goal at 9:52.  Scott Perunovich scored on a breakaway at 13:22 to give UMD its first lead of the night, and Joey Anderson scored an unassisted goal at 17:25 to make it 3-1 after two.

Joey Anderson added an empty-net, power play goal in the third for the final score.

The Mavericks are now 17-15-2 overall and finished the NCHC regular season with a record of 10-13-1-0/0, putting them in fifth place.  Minnesota Duluth is now 19-14-3 overall and finished the NCHC campaign 13-11-0-0/0, good for third.  UMD will host Western Michigan in the first round of the playoffs.

GAME NOTES:

• The Mavericks' NCHC-leading power play went 0-for-7 while UMD finished 2-for-5.
• Evan Weninger made 36 saves for the Mavericks and finished the weekend with 77 saves and four goals against.
• The playoff series with North Dakota will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday, if necessary, March 9-11.  

Three Stars:  1. Joey Anderson/UMD (Two goals); 2. Scott Perunovich/UMD (GWG, assist); 3. Karson Kuhlman/UMD (One goal)