No. 4 North Dakota Downs Tech 5-3 in Playoff Opener

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Tonight's opening game of the WCHA playoffs featured eight goals and 22 penalties as No. 4 North Dakota claimed a 5-3 victory over Michigan Tech. Despite their top two scorers being out of the game (one with injury and the other because of a penalty), the Huskies closed to within 4-3 and hit a pipe on a potential game-tying goal in the closing minutes.

Tech held a 34-24 advantage in shots on goal, but it didn't translate on the scoreboard.

Michigan Tech fell behind 1-0 on a bad bounce. Michael Parks attempted a centering pass from below the goal line that deflected off a defenseman's skate and into the net over Jamie Phillips' shoulder 7:03 into the first.

Later in the period, UND's Andrew MacWilliam hit David Johnstone at center ice. MacWilliam was given a five-minute contact to the head penalty and a 10-minute game misconduct. Johnstone was injured and did not return to the game.

Ryan Furne made the man advantage pay with a shot from the slot 2:08 into the major power play. Alex Petan waited at the side of the net and fed the pass to a wide-open Furne for the junior's first power-play goal of the season.

UND regained its lead with a power-play goal of its own at the 18:07 mark. Dillon Simpson was able to send a shot through traffic past a screened Phillips.

Tech again tied the score 1:48 into the second as Jacob Johnstone flipped a shot on net from the left halfwall that snuck between goaltender Zane Gothberg and the near post.

The Huskies carried play through the second period with a 14-8 advantage in shots on goal, but it was UND's Derek Rodwell getting the next goal as he skated in from center ice and beat Phillips with a shot from the slot.

Danny Kristo helped the hosts regain a two-goal lead with a power-play goal at the 4:33 mark of the third.

The teams got into a scrum prior to the ensuing faceoff, and two players for each team were sent to the penalty box for matching minors. Just 28 seconds after play resumed, Petan and Corbin Knight exchanged blows with their sticks. Knight earned a cross-checking minor and Petan a slashing call. Petan also got into an altercation with Kristo and was given a minor for roughing and a 10-minute game misconduct.

The penalties left the Huskies without the services of three of their defensemen (serving penalties) and top two scorers (out of the game).

Tech killed the UND power play and battled on through the period. Riley Sweeney pulled the Black and Gold within a goal on a shot from the center red line that squeezed through Gothberg's pads.

Moments after Sweeney's second career goal, Jacob Johnstone rang a shot off the post.

Kristo came the other way with the puck. His initial shot was stopped by Phillips, but Kristo stayed with the play and banked it off Phillips into the net.

UND was whistled for a trip with 1:55 left, and the Huskies pulled Phillips for the 6-on-4 advantage. The visitors could not get another goal, however.

"Our guys fought hard having two of our top scorers out of the lineup," said head coach Mel Pearson. "We battled hard, and I walk out of here feeling like we were the better team tonight. You just can't let the puck into your net five times and expect to win. We've got to be better defensively."

North Dakota (20-10-7) converted 2-of-5 power play chances while Michigan Tech went 1-for-3.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow night at 8:07 p.m. ET.