In 2,135 lifetime games and 72 seasons the University of Minnesota Duluth in all likelihood never experience the kind of finish it did Friday night in Grand Forks, N.D.
The Bulldogs lost to University of North Dakota and did so on a penalty shot by Austin Poganski with 1:14 remaining in overtime after Bulldog junior defenseman
Carson Soucy was whistled for tripping. Poganski lifted a backhand over sophomore goaltender
Kasimir Kaskisuo to propel the No. 4 Fighting Hawks past UMD 2-1 in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference series opener. It was the only shot North Dakota generated in the extra session.
"It was just a real evenly-played, hard-fought battle," said Bulldog head coach
Scott Sandelin. "I thought our guys played hard in a building that's tough to win in."
Junior center
Dominic Toninato gave UMD (11-13-5 overall; 7-9-3-1 NCHC) a 1-0 lead at 15:49 of the first period when he tipped in a shot from junior left winger Alex Iaffalo while the Bulldogs were a man up. The goal was Toninato's 11th of the season and came against a North Dakota club that had killed off 20 consecutive power play opportunities over the previous five games. Coltyn Sanderson drew North Dakota (23-5-3; 14-4-1-1) even with an unassisted goal, scoring on a hard wrister from the left circle. UMD outshot North Dakota 11-5 in that period and 33-25 on the night.
"I thought we ate a lot of pucks tonight," said UMD rookie defenseman
Neal Pionk, who was in on two of UMD's 20 blocked shots. "That's an important part of the game and I know Kasimir appreciate ate."
The two teams will meet again Saturday at 7:07 p.m.
Notes: The last time the Bulldogs gave up a penalty shot was on Nov. 1, 2014 to Miami University's Blake Coleman at AMSOIL Arena ... UMD is 0-1-5 in overtimes outings this season and has won jus three of its last 25 games that have required sudden death (3-6-16) ... The Bulldogs went 1-for-4 on the power play while North Dakota was 0-for-3 ... Left winger Adam Johnson picked up an assist on Toninato's goal and now has 13 points -- tops among all 2015-16 rookies..
