Austin Poganski’s goal at 17:25 of the third period would normally be considered a game-winning goal, but tonight the game-winning goal was found seven celebrations earlier. On the power player, Christian Wolanin and Nick Jones assisted Poganski. The power play was due to a tripping penalty by Luká Buchata.
North Dakota stepped on the gas pedal and never looked back. The attendance of 10,816 at the Ralph Engelstad Arena saw five goals in two periods to bury Omaha’s chances of rally. That, and a very disciplined Fighting Hawks team that only committed two penalties and killed them.
North Dakota made it 6-0 on Andrew Peski’s tally at 11:09 of the third period following another Poganksi score just a couple minutes before (5-0). Poganski had two goals and one assists in the night. A total of six different Fighting Hawks were able to find the back of the net, and this includes Wolanin’s goal (4-0) at 16:05 that was helped by Joel Janatuinen. Janatuinen also scored before this, however, North Dakota also didn’t do tremendously on the power play considering most of their goals came even strength and they had five power players.
Colton Poolman was able to successfully take advantage of UND’s first power play on his goal earlier in the game at 2:46 of the second period. The scoring for North Dakota essentially took off in the second and third period as only one goal was registered in the first. Rhett Gardner’s goal at 17:54 of the first period proved to be the game winner with helpers to Shane Gersich and Austin Poganski. North Dakota outshot Omaha by over half their shots at 32-15.