DULUTH, Minn. — Scott Perunovich lit the lamp twice for the host Bulldogs and collected the game winner as Minnesota Duluth defeated North Dakota, 5-2, at AMSOIL Arena. Joey Anderson contributed a four-point game and Riley Tufte added three points to help lift the Bulldogs to victory.
Shane Gersich and Austin Poganski put the Fighting Hawks up 2-0 in the first period on even strength goals just 30 seconds apart, but Jared Thomas answered for the hosts at 10:10 to cut the lead to one.
Perunovich had the only goals of the second and teammates Parker Mackay and Tufte scored for Duluth in the third. The Bulldogs were 3-6 on power plays and improved to .257 overall with the man advantage, which is now seventh best nationally.
Cam Johnson made 28 saves in net for the visitors, but it was his Duluth counterpart, Hunter Shepard, taking the win with 18 saves made in goal.
The Bulldogs improve to 13-9-3 overall and 7-7-0 in conference play. They will play at Minnesota State on Tues., Jan. 23 to complete a home-and-home series with the Mavericks.
North Dakota falls to 12-8-6 overall and 7-4-2-1 in conference play. The Fighting Hawks will host Denver next weekend in Grand Forks.