Though they posted a 39-27 shot advantage on the night, the No. 7 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs dropped game one of their series to the No. 9 North Dakota Fighting Hawks by a score of 4-3. The Bulldogs gave up three power-play goals on the evening and drop to a 15-12-3 overall record on the season. 

Blake Biondi added to his team-lead in goals after he buried his 13th of the season. Dominic James and Kobe Roth each also found the back of the net for UMD in the loss. Roth's marker gives him goals in back-to-back games. On the back-end, Hunter Lellig notched two assists on the night, while James also registered an assist to give himself two points on Friday evening. Ryan Fanti made the start in net for the Bulldogs and made 23 saves off 27 Fighting Hawks shots. 

Midway through the first, UND's Tyler Kleven used a wrister from the blueline to beat Fanti low-glove and give the Fighting Hawks an early lead. UMD continued to carry the play following the goal and would get a late first-period chance. After dumping the puck into the UND zone, Olson poked the puck to James who was cutting behind the net. James found Biondi alone in the slot and the sophomore snapped a shot low-blocker side past UND's Zach Driscoll to tie the game at 1-1. The goal for Biondi was his team-leading 13th of the season. The Bulldogs took a 14-5 shot advantage to the second period of play. 

In the second, back-to-back power-play goals from North Dakota would give the Fighting Hawks a 3-1 lead heading to the third. The lead for UND came despite the Bulldogs outshooting the Fighting Hawks 27-12 through 40 minutes. 

A wild third-period would see the two sides trade goals. Midway through the period, a short-handed breakaway goal from James would pull the Bulldogs within one. Minutes later, UND's third power-play goal of the night would restore a two-goal advantage for the Fighting Hawks with just over six minutes remaining. Down by two once again, the Bulldogs wouldn't go away. While at the blue line, Owen Gallatin spotted Hunter Lellig on the opposite side of the zone. After receiving the pass from Gallatin, Lellig let a wrister go through some UND traffic. While parked on the side of the Fighting Hawks net, Roth deflected Lellig's shot to bring UMD within one with four minutes left in regulation. UMD pulled Fanti and pressured till the end, but was unable to find the tying goal. 

Up Next
UMD and UND will finish out their two-game series on Saturday night in Duluth. Puck drop from AMSOIL Arena is set for 7:07 PM.