ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Minnesota Duluth erased a one-goal deficit with three third-period goals Saturday night to earn a 5-3 victory over St. Cloud State in National Collegiate Hockey Conference play at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
Zam Plante scored twice in the final period and added an assist as the Bulldogs improved to 17-7 overall and 8-6 in the NCHC. His final assist came on an empty-net goal by linemate Jayson Shaugabay.
Minnesota Duluth entered the third period trailing 3-2 after St. Cloud State scored three times in the second. The Huskies received goals from Verner Miettinen, Gavyn Thoreson and Max Smolinski.
The Bulldogs answered early in the third period. Callum Arnott set up Plante with a backhand pass on a power play, leaving Plante alone at the net to tie the game. Plante later added the go-ahead goal to give UMD its first lead since the opening period.
Max Plante opened the scoring 12 seconds into the game, converting on the Bulldogs’ first shift. The goal came one night after he was stopped on a penalty shot during a 6-0 loss to the Huskies. Arnott also scored for UMD, finishing with a goal and an assist.
St. Cloud State outshot Minnesota Duluth 13-8 in the second period and briefly carried momentum after turning a 1-1 game into a one-goal lead. Arnott’s goal midway through the period gave the Bulldogs a short-lived advantage before the Huskies responded with three unanswered scores.
Yan Shostak made 24 saves for St. Cloud State (12-12, 5-9 NCHC), one night after stopping 42 shots in a shutout win. Minnesota Duluth goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir finished with 20 saves in his second start with the program after transferring from Miami.
Minnesota Duluth returns home next weekend to host Western Michigan in a two-game series at Amsoil Arena.
