GRAND FORKS, N.D. – No. 1 North Dakota scored three goals in the first period to propel it to a 4-1 win over the Omaha hockey team on Saturday at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
With the loss, the Mavericks split the weekend series, falling to 9-10-3 overall and 3-6-1-0/0 in the NCHC, tying them with Colorado College for sixth. The conference-leading Fighting Hawks, who lost to the Mavericks 6-3 in the series opener, improved to 17-2-2 overall and 8-1-1-1/0 in the NCHC.
North Dakota set the pace early, getting goals from Casey Johnson, Collin Adams and Mark Senden, the last with 19 seconds remaining in the period.
The Mavericks got one back in the second period when
Taylor Ward's shot from the corner hit a UND defenseman and caromed into the net. It was his team-leading 12th goal of the season.
But Shane Pinto countered with a power play goal at 10:19 to restore the three goal lead for UND.
Isaiah Saville made 23 saves for the Mavericks while Adam Scheel stopped 18 for UND.
The Mavericks return home to host No. 5 Denver on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18.
GAME NOTES:
- Ward earned Omaha's only point of the night as his goal was unassisted.
- Ward is now Omaha's leading scorer with 19 points this season.
- UNO went 0-for-4 on the power play including one five-minute advantage. The Mavericks finished 0-for-5 for the weekend.
Three stars: 1. Mark Senden/UND (1-1-2); 2. Casey Johnson/UND (One goal); 3. Collin Adams/UND (One goal)
