COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.(UND Athletics) – Freshman Jackson Blake showed why he is one of the top players in the country on Friday night, potting a pair of goals, including the game winner, to give North Dakota a 2-1 overtime win over Colorado College from Ed Robson Arena.
Blake struck just 29 seconds into overtime after he danced free of his defender and sniped it over the goaltender’s shoulder to give the Fighting Hawks (14-13-5, 8-10-3 NCHC) a crucial two points in the NCHC standings and their 14th straight win over CC (10-19-2, 6-13-2 NCHC).
The freshman, who was recently named a nominee for the Hobey Baker Award, collected his 12th game this season with multiple points, extended his point streak to seven straight games and helped UND stretch its unbeaten streak to three.
In a similar contest to last Saturday’s 2-2 tie against No. 6 St. Cloud State, the Fighting Hawks were dominant with puck possession and zone time over the final 40 minutes. After being outshot by an 8-3 margin in the first period, the visitors had 30 of the game’s final 40 shots on goal over the next two stanzas to finish with a 34-18 shot advantage.
Drew DeRidder stretched his unbeaten streak to three straight as well, turning aside 17-of-18 shots to earn his ninth win of the season.
Neither side could get much going on the offensive end of the rink in the opening 20 minutes, with the teams combining for 11 shots and zero goals. DeRidder had to be a little busier towards the end of the stanza, making a big stop on a chance from the slot in the closing minutes to keep the Tigers off the board.
North Dakota came out with a little more jump in the second period, hemming the Tigers in their own zone for a long stretch before Blake broke the deadlock on a great pass from Riese Gaber to give the visitors a 1-0 lead just over two minutes into the middle frame. It didn’t take long for CC to respond; however, knotting the game at 1-1 a few minutes later on a shot through the legs of DeRidder to try and bring the momentum back towards the hosts.
The CC goal didn’t hinder the UND attack, as the visitors dominated play in the middle period for the second straight night but could not find the back of the net to keep the game tied at 1-1 after 40 minutes despite a 15-5 advantage in shots on goal.
The third period saw much of the same for the Fighting Hawks, replicating their 15-5 shot advantage once again in the final 20 minutes, but Kaidan Mberko was solid again to send the game to overtime tied at 1-1.
Just 29 seconds into the extra session, Blake put the finishing touches on his fabulous night with his first-career overtime winner to give UND a huge second point in the NCHC standings and the 2-1 victory.
North Dakota and Colorado College close out the weekend series on Saturday night at 7 p.m. (CT) from Ed Robson Arena.
Postgame Notes
- The win was only UND’s second when scoring fewer than four goals, improving to 2-12-4 this season
- NoDak was held to 0-for-4 on the power play, but had nine shots, while CC was 0-for-3 with one shot
- Riese Gaber notched two assists for his third multi-point game over the last six
- The OT winner was the first for Jackson Blake in his career
- Blake now has 12 games with multiple points and eight in conference play
- UND has gone to overtime in three straight games for the first time since Feb. 23 – Mar. 3, 2018 when it happened four times
- NoDak improves to 3-1-5 this season in overtime and has won two of its last three
- Blake now has 12 points over his last seven games
- North Dakota has now won 14 straight games over Colorado College
- CC won the faceoff battle, 31-24, with Mark Senden leading UND at 9-6.
How It Happened
First Period
No scoring
Second Period
2:15 | UND – Jackson Blake opens the scoring on a great pass from Riese Gaber to give UND a 1-0 lead
🍥 The Connection! 🍥#UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/LDPiMnfjt9
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) February 25, 2023
5:54 | CC – Ethan Straky evens the game at 1-1 with a shot through the legs of DeRidder
Third Period
No scoring
Overtime
0:29 | UND – Blake tallies his second of the night to give UND a 2-1 win in overtime
Walk-off stick flip? That’s how it’s done! #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/yOtTNQ5r2y
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) February 25, 2023
Game Recap: Men’s Hockey | 2/25/2023 12:08:00 AM | Alec Stocker Johnson, FightingHawks.com
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