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ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Connor Gaarder scored twice and Brendan O’Donnell had three assists in a five-goal second period as No. 10 North Dakota took control of the NCHC title race with a 5-2 victory over No. 5 St. Cloud State on Friday.
UND broke a first-place tie with the Huskies and can clinch at least a share of the regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in the NCHC playoffs with another win over St. Cloud State on Saturday.
Trailing 1-0 after the first period after St. Cloud State’s Joey Benik scored a power-play goal, North Dakota scored five even-strength goals in the second period.
Gaarder, Luke Johnson, Mark MacMillan and Drake Caggiula scored as UND outshot the Huskies 17-3 in the period.
Zane Gothberg made 22 saves for UND. St. Cloud State starter Ryan Faragher allowed five goals on 26 shots before being replaced by Charlie Lindgren (eight saves).
