Denver Sweeps North Dakota in NCHC Battle
In a thrilling NCHC matchup, top-ranked Denver overcame No. 9/10 North Dakota with a narrow 3-2 victory Saturday night at a sold-out Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D. This result not only secured a weekend sweep for the Pioneers but also maintained their flawless season record at 12-0-0.
North Dakota (5-6-0, 2-2-0 NCHC) initially took control of the game, taking a 1-0 lead when Sacha Boisvert scored on a power play, assisted by Dylan James and Abram Wiebe. The Pioneers, however, tied the game before the end of the first period through James Reeder.
In the second period, the Fighting Hawks regained the lead with a shorthanded goal from Dylan James, showcasing his talent as he potted his fifth goal of the season. Yet, Denver quickly responded, leveling the score again with a power play goal from Aidan Thompson and taking the lead through Boston Buckberger’s opportunistic goal shortly before the period’s end.
Despite North Dakota’s push in the final frame, they failed to find the equalizer. T.J. Semptimphelter, the Fighting Hawks’ goaltender, made notable saves, finishing with 19 saves on 22 shots. His performance kept Denver under four goals for the first time this season.
Next weekend, North Dakota will look to bounce back with a nonconference showdown against Robert Morris at 7:07 p.m. on Friday. Statistics highlight that Denver edged North Dakota in power plays, converting one out of two, while the Hawks finished one for four.
This defeat underscores a challenging stretch for North Dakota, which has now lost three straight home games in regulation, marking their first such instance since November 2022.
Source
Photo credit fightinghawks.com
