Bolstered by its first five-goal period in nine years, the University of Minnesota Duluth broke out of a four-game winless funk by taking down Merrimack College 7-2 Saturday night at AMSOIL Arena.

Senior left winger Avery Peterson scored twice for his first multiple-goal night as a Bulldog and his linemates, senior center Jared Thomas and junior right winger Parker Mackay each had a career-high three points (all assists). In addition, rookies Mikey Anderson and Nick Swaney both had a goal and an assist as UMD improved to 2-2-2 overall.

The No. 9 Bullldogs, who skated to 5-5 overtime draw with Merrimack (0-3-2) on Friday night, held a 2-1 lead at the second intermission before busting loose with the program's first five-goal period since Dec. 6, 2008 in a 7-4 triumph at Colorado College. Both of Peterson's scores came in the final five minutes of regulation, sandwiched around sophomore center Jade Miller's first goal of the season.

Sophomore defenseman Jarod Hilderman (the first of his career) and Peter Krieger (his second of the weekend) accounted for other two UMD goals.

"It was a real good team effort tonight and it was nice to see different guys get on the scoring sheet," said UMD head coach Scott Sandelin. "I thought we played a good first period -- It was one of the better periods we had this year. We were moving our feet and moving the puck. We got away from that in the second period and we starting going backwards and then we found our stride again."

UMD heavily outshot the Warriors (41-22) for the second straight night and went 2-for-5 on the power play while Merrimack was 0-for-4. Sophomore goaltender Hunter Shepard got the win, his second in three starts this season.

The Bulldogs will pay a visit to Bangor, Maine next Friday and Saturday to face the University of Maine, which, like Merrimack is a member of Hockey East.