COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (UND Athletics) – Sophomore forward Owen McLaughlin and senior goaltender Ludvig Persson both earned weekly NCHC honors, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon. McLaughlin was named the NCHC Forward of the Week for the first time while Persson gloved the NCHC Goaltender of the Week award for the fourth time this season.
McLaughlin tallied three points to help North Dakota lock up the Penrose Cup with a sweep of then-No. 12 Western Michigan. The Philadelphia Flyers draft pick scored two goals in the series to tie for the NCHC goal-scoring lead on the weekend, tallying one each night. In Friday’s opener, McLaughlin notched the game’s opening goal only 1:50 into the contest in an eventual 5-3 victory. A night later, he tallied two points in a 3-0 shutout to clinch the NCHC regular season title. McLaughlin handed out the primary assist on UND’s second goal, then sealed the win with a breakaway goal midway through the third period.
The Spring City, Pa., native finished the weekend with two goals, an assist, a +2 plus/minus and three shots on goal. In doing so, he stretched his point streak to four games, with three goals and two assists in that span. The sophomore is tied for second on the team with 34 points (12g/22a) in 33 games, with his 22 assists also second on UND.
Persson backstopped North Dakota to a sweep of then-No. 12 Western Michigan, including shining on Saturday’s Senior Night with a shutout to secure the Penrose Cup. The Swede made more than 30 saves both nights, starting with 34 stops in Friday’s 5-3 victory. The next night, in the final regular-season home game, Persson turned aside all 35 shots he faced, including 13 in the final frame, in a 3-0 whitewash for his fifth shutout of the season and second in four games. The 35 saves marked a season high and his 10th career shutout, while earning him the game’s first star honors.
The senior finished the sweep with 69 total saves and a .958 save percentage, both of which led the NCHC on the weekend. He also compiled a 1.50 goals-against average, which was second in the NCHC, in the two wins. Persson is now second nationally with five shutouts on the year and fourth in the NCAA with 21 wins, posting a 21-8-2 record in net. On the season, he now has a .908 save percentage and a 2.44 GAA, both ranking in the top three in the NCHC.
No. 3 North Dakota heads to Baxter Arena to close the regular season against No. 16/17 Omaha beginning on Friday night at 7:07 p.m.
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