COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Danny Kristo scored what proved to be the game-winning goal late in the second period as North Dakota beat Colorado College 3-2 for a sweep of their two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series.
The win clinches for North Dakota (18-11-5, 13-10-3 WCHA) home ice for the first round of the WCHA playoffs. The Fighting Sioux and Tigers (17-14-3, 11-12-3) entered the weekend tied for fifth place in the conference.
“At the start of the year, your first goal is to gain home ice for the WCHA playoffs. It took us 26 games,” North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol said. “This is a hard place to come in and sweep.”
Matt Frattin had a goal and an assist and Brad Malone assisted on all three UND goals.
The Sioux killed off three Colorado College power plays in the first period, then got a power-play goal by Chris VandeVelde fort a 1-0 lead.
“(Goalie) Brad Eidsness and the penalty killers did a great job,” Hakstol said. “We had three good shot blocks up top.”
Frattin and Kristo made it 3-1, allowing UND withstand a late goal by Tyler Johnson after the Tigers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker.
Mike Boivin scored his first career goal for Colorado College.
Eidsness had 27 saves for UND, which has won five straight game, and Joe Howe turned aside 28 for the Tigers.
