GRAND FORKS, N.D.—Ryan Duncan and T.J. Oshie each had three-point nights as North Dakota defeated Colorado College 6-2 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play Friday
Duncan scored two goals and added an assist while linemate Oshie contributed a goal and two assists for UND (4-1-1, 2-1-0). The Tigers (2-3-0, 2-1-0) and UND meet again Saturday.
It took only half of the first period for UND to take a 3-0 lead, with all of the goals coming with its top line on the ice.
Oshie started the outburst with a power-play goal, converting Robbie Bina’s cross-crease feed from the right circle. Oshie set up the second goal less than a minute later, his pass giving Duncan an easy tap-in into an open net.
The advantage moved to 3-0 with Duncan doing most of the work. Last season’s Hobey Baker winner went around a defender and snuck the puck between goalie Drew O’Connell’s skates. Defenseman Derrick LaPoint touched the puck just before it crossed the line and was credited with the goal.
Billy Sweatt cut UND’s lead to 3-1 early in the third period. On a 3-on-2 rush, Sweatt split two defenseman and muscled the puck past goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux. But UND maintained its three-goal lead heading into the second intermission when Duncan found the high corner with the Sioux on a 5-on-3 power play.
Eric Walsky’s rebound goal cut the lead to 4-2 early in the third period, but UND’s Rylan Kaip and Joe Finley answered for the Sioux.
Lamoureux, who had shutouts in four of UND’s first five games, made 23 saves, many of them difficult ones in the free-wheeling game. CC’s Drew O’Connell had 21 stops, many of them also on good scoring chances.
