GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Daylight Saving Time wasn’t due to end for another 12 hours, but North Dakota nearly slept right through Saturday night’s U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game against Air Force.
A frantic third period and overtime, however, saw UND erase a 2-0 deficit and Bryn Chyzyk’s shorthanded goal with six seconds remaining in overtime allowed North Dakota (5-1-1) to escape with an improbable – and relieving – 3-2 victory over Air Force (2-4) in front of 11,895 at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
UND seemingly snoozed through the game’s first 40 minutes, succumbing to what Frank Serratore called his team’s best game of the season. But North Dakota awoke from its slumber in the third, riding an early third period goal from Tucker Poolman and a Drake Caggiula extra-attacker goal with 29 seconds left to stave off a regulation upset.
Then, even though Brendan O’Donnell’s checking from behind major at 2:17 of overtime made a tie feel like a best-case scenario, Michael Parks corralled a puck at center ice and stormed into the offensive zone, eventually finding Chyzyk for the winner on a two-on-one rush.
“I don’t know what to say,” Parks said. “We didn’t play a complete game, but I guess we’re mature enough to find a way to win that game.”
The late heroics of UND’s veteran forwards wiped out what was a solid start for Serratore’s Falcons, who broke out early for a 1-0 lead on the strength of an Erik Baskin goal at 2:56 of the first. Then, just moments after an Air Force penalty expired, Cole Gunner found Scott Holm streaking to the net to push the lead to 2-0 three minutes into the second period.
“The bottom line is that this was by far our best effort,” Serratore said. “I just told our guys that I hope we don’t have to go up to Ralph Engelstad Arena or Mariucci Arena or Yost Arena in order to put our best foot forward. We need to put our best foot forward whether it’s Robert Morris, whether it’s Alabama-Huntsville, or whether it’s Bentley. I’m proud of the effort, but it just wasn’t enough.”
North Dakota couldn’t answer right away, even with three power plays in the second period. But the answer came with gusto in the third.
Poolman notched his third goal of the season streaking to the net and beating Chris Truehl (30 saves) from the right dot at 6:53.
The equalizer nearly eluded UND, which pulled Zane McIntyre (18 saves) with 1:20 left. But UND’s procrastinating ways paid off when Caggiula finished a rebound from the right slot, sending the Ralph crowd into a frenzy and pushing the game to overtime.
“We came out really poor and we left ourselves 20 minutes to earn a ‘W’ and I thought our team did that,” Caggiula said. “It was really big for our team and our locker room. The third period was excellent, but I think we’ve got to work on our starts after that one.”
O’Donnell’s five-minute major in overtime for his check from behind on Tyler Ledford made a victory seem out of reach. Even UND coach Dave Hakstol thought they were resigned to merely salvage a tie.
“We dug ourselves out of a real bad situation, being down 2-0 and got it to 2-2,” Hakstol said. “At that time you’re trying to preserve the tie and get through the PK.”
Serratore pulled no punches, and sent out his top power play unit – with four forwards – to go for the kill.
“We knew North Dakota leads the nation in shorthanded goals – we knew all that,” Serratore said. “We made the decision to play to win. What kind of message do we send our guys when we take one of our guys off the unit that’s over 20 percent right now?”
But with time winding down, Parks made his improbable play, coolly picking up the puck, fighting off multiple defenders and dishing to Chyzyk for the winner.
“It was calculated and it backfired on us,” Serratore said. “But again, give North Dakota credit. They executed against our best players and scored a shorthanded goal.”
North Dakota escaped with the win and has a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1).
“We came out really poor and we left ourselves 20 minutes to earn a ‘W,'” said Chyzyk. “I thought our team did that. It was really big for our team and our locker room.”
