GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Lingering memories of Miami’s last visit to Grand Forks only strengthened its will to end this game differently.
The RedHawks put aside the 9-2 loss it was dealt last February and ended North Dakota’s eight-game unbeaten streak Friday night when they notched a 3-2 victory over UND in front of 11,537 at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Alex Gacek and Sean Kuraly each tallied goals in the first five minutes of the opening frame to send Miami (8-3-0, 4-1-0 NCHC) ahead and put the home team in a 2-0 deficit.
“We remember last year, so we were ready to go when we came in here,” Kuraly said. “We really just focused on the process this week and doing what we do, and not letting the environment change how we play. I thought we were alright. We were happy with the start.”
Goals from Michael Parks and Drake Caggiula put North Dakota (7-2-1, 2-1-0) back in the game, but Kuraly’s second goal of the night secured a Miami victory.
A game played months ago served as motivation, though a team one year older used its maturity to claim a win over a North Dakota team fighting just a hard for points in an NCHC rivalry matchup.
“That was last year,” Kuraly said. “We’re a new team. If we play our game, that’s the best we can do. We’re not worried about how they’re going to play. We know they’re going to play well. They’re going to play well every single night. So we play our best and we’ll see what happens.”
Miami’s best was enough Friday night. Gacek put the visitors on the board first when he picked up the puck from Anthony Louis and swept it in past Zane McIntyre (27 saves) at 3:09 of the first period.
Gacek wasted no time putting the RedHawks within reach of another when he rushed into the zone and passed the puck to Kuraly for a goal at 4:15 for a 2-0 lead.
North Dakota responded at 14:36 of the first with its lone goal of the period on a Parks wraparound to erase the deficit.
Both teams were dealt multiple roughing penalties at 16:45 of the opening frame – Colten St. Clair and Matthew Caito remaining out with facemasking penalties and game misconducts.
Despite being one skater short, North Dakota was quick to set the tone in the second period.
Caggiula stole the puck and rushed down the wing to snipe the puck past Jay Williams (21 saves) on a shorthanded breakaway to set the teams even at 2-2. The goal also marked UND’s seventh shorthanded goal of the season.
The RedHawks took back the lead, though, as Scott Dornbrock’s point shot bounced off the end wall and Kuraly tipped it in for his second of the night at 6:50 of the second period.
Miami continued to hold on as the clock ticked down, despite a hungry North Dakota team that nearly claimed a point in the final minute thanks to multiple chances with an extra attacker on the ice and an empty net in its own zone.
“It was so loud,” Kuraly said. “You could barely hear yourself think. We were just sacrificing the body, trying to block shots. Nothing got in. But these games will be good for us down the stretch.”
North Dakota fought to redeem its start, and will use the intense battle as a learning tool for Saturday night.
“It was a hard-fought hockey game,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said. “I thought we were OK for 50 minutes. We didn’t start very well. We worked hard to dig ourselves out of a tow-goal deficit and get it back to even. It was a hard-fought game all the way.
“There are things we want to be better at and need to be batter at. We need to be harder in some areas and we’ll try to do that tomorrow.”
