No. 1 North Dakota extends win streak to six with 3-2 OT win over Beavers
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND ATHLETICS)– Jackson Blake scored just 50 seconds into the extra session to help top-ranked North Dakota battle back from a two-goal deficit and defeat Bemidji State, 3-2, in overtime on Friday night from Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.
UND (10-2-1) had to rally from an early 2-0 deficit, something it has not needed to do all season, but Cameron Berg struck for a pair of goals in regulation and Blake finished it off with his second OT winner of the season to extend the nation’s longest winning streak to six.
Ludvig Persson settled in after a bit of a shaky start, improving his personal unbeaten and winning streaks to a career-long six games with 19 saves on 21 shots against. The Fighting Hawks got stronger defensively as the game wore on, holding the Beavers (5-8-0) to just five shots over the final 20:50 of the contest.
For only the second time all season, North Dakota found itself in a 1-0 hole. Kasper Magnussen pounced on a loose puck in the crease just 1:19 into the contest to give the visitors the early advantage before increasing the lead to 2-0 late in the first period on Jackson Jutting’s sixth tally of the year.
NoDak was able to carry some momentum into the intermission, however, as Berg took control of a bouncing puck at the top of the circles and wired a shot off the post and into the net for his third tally of the campaign just 35 seconds after the Jutting goal to cut the lead to 2-1 after 20 minutes.
Despite a strong second period from the home side, the score remained 2-1 in favor of Bemidji State entering the third, but Berg and his team finally brought the game level at 2-2 when Hunter Johannes laid a puck into the junior’s wheelhouse, and he sniped it over the glove of Gavin Enright at the 5:18 mark of the frame.
Neither side was able to break the deadlock in the regulation period, but Jake Livanavage feathered a perfect pass to Blake on the doorstep to win the game just 50 seconds into overtime to cap the comeback and give the Fighting Hawks the 3-2 victory.
North Dakota aims for its third straight sweep and seventh straight win tomorrow night at 6:07 p.m. from the Ralph. Fans can catch all the action on Midco Sports, NCHC.tv or the Home of Economy Radio Network.
Postgame Notes
- UND improves to 36-5-7 all-time against Bemidji State and 25-3-4 in Grand Forks
- North Dakota is now 6-1-6 in 3-on-3 overtime since the beginning of the 2022-23 season
- Cameron Berg notched his second-career game with two goals, last coming Nov. 19, 2021 vs. Alaska
- Owen McLaughlin extended his point streak to a career-long six games (2-7-9)
- Berg now has six points over his last five games (3-3-6)
- UND recorded its first two-goal comeback win since Feb. 17, 2023 vs. St. Cloud State
- NoDak was not penalized in a game for the first time since Feb. 22, 1997 vs. Alaska Anchorage
- UND finished with a 32-21 shot advantage, with Hunter Johannes leading with six
- The Hawks did not score first for only the second time this season, improving to 1-1-0 when doing so
- Jackson Blake has goals in three straight games
- UND improved to 7-1-1 at home this season and 58-16-4 since 2019-20
- Berg, Blake and Jake Livanavage were named the game’s three stars, in that order
- North Dakota finished with a 34-29 faceoff advantage, with Berg going 14-6 to lead all skaters
How It Happened
First Period
01:19 | BSU – Kasper Magnussen opens the scoring early in the first period with a rebound goal
17:30 | BSU – Jackson Jutting sneaks a shot through Persson to extend the lead to 2-0
18:05 | UND – Cameron Berg gets UND on the board with a rocket off the post and in
Second Period
No scoring
Third Period
05:18 | UND – Berg scores his second of the night on a one-timer from Hunter Johannes
Overtime
00:50 | UND – Jackson Blake finishes off a great feed from Jake Livanavage to give UND a 3-2 victory
