Fighting Hawks fall 5-4 in overtime to the Mavericks

GRAND FORKS --- The University of Nebraska-Omaha sent the University of North Dakota back to their dressing room empty-handed.

Jack Randl scored 34 seconds into overtime, pushing the Mavericks past the Hawks 5-4. Omaha has had no problem scoring in close games this season. They are 9 - 1 in one-goal games.

It has been the same story for UND; the Hawks still haven't lost a game in regulation since November 3rd against Boston University, but UND has now lost their last four overtime games, not including a fifth in the exhibition.

UND had plenty of time and chances to win the game in regulation, North Dakota held a 3 - 1 lead going into the second period. Matt Miller scored a powerplay goal for the Mavericks 1:26 into the period; UND failed to respond, and Omaha evened the score at three after Brock Bremer beat Persson glove side off a beautiful pass to the slot from Ty Mueller.

UND Head Coach Brad Berry addressed Omaha's 3 - 1 second-period comeback in a press conference following Friday's contest.

 "One of the things is when it's three to one coming in after the first period, you have to keep the habits and details to keep pushing because you know the push is going to come from the other way," Berry said.

 Both teams' powerplays went 2/3 in tonight's game, highlighting the importance of a strong special teams unit in winning.

"You're not going to win too many games if you gave up two power play goals," Berry said.

 Although the latter half of the game did not go North Dakota's way, UND came out in the first period with the foot on the gas, Jackson Blake scored just 10 seconds into the first period.

 Omaha was quick to even the score, Zach Urdahl ripped a shot past Persson just a 1:10 later, both of UND and UNO's first shots went in the net. 

UND was able to capitalize on multiple powerplay goals in the first; McLaughlin rifled the puck past Latkoczy 14:26 into the game, and with 44 seconds left in the first period, Gaber beat Latkoczy, glove side.

 Following Omaha tying the game three to three, Ben Strinden capitalized on a two-on-one back door pass from Louis Jamernik. "He made an awesome pass over," Strinden said. "It was pretty much a tap-in."

Omaha would once again rally from behind to send the game to overtime. UND forward Louis Jamernik expressed his disappointment following the loss. 

"It's just frustrating because we work so hard to get these nice leads and kind of let them go right now," Jamernik said.

 North Dakota will need to play a complete 60-minute game if they want to find success in college hockey's toughest conference.

 Keys for Saturday night:

 North Dakota will look to replicate their success in the first period again tomorrow. Jackson Blake's goal was the fastest goal of the year. The Hawks dominated the shot column in the first period outshooting the Mavericks 19 - 7.

 Additionally, UND will need to be as effective on the power play again, the Hawks went 2/3 on the night. McLaughlin and Gaber scored two momentum-swinging goals in the first period to put the Hawks up 3 - 1.

 On the contrary, UND will need to execute better on the penalty kill.

"Five on five, I thought we played well enough or had chances to win; it's just a special teams area that we got to probably tighten up on," Berry said. 

Coach Berry put it the best, you're not going to win many games with a poor penalty kill.

Goaltending was not perfect for the Hawks. Ludvig Persson started his first game since Dec. 9th. Persson missed the last two games due to an illness but practiced for most of the week. Persson stopped 19 of the 24 shots on goal.

The Fighting Hawks will take on the Mavericks once again tomorrow night at Ralph Engelstad Arena; Puck drop is set for 6:07 PM.