UMD Scores Three in Comeback

NSO- NEWS RELEASE

It’s been quite a while since the University of Minnesota Duluth experienced a third-period comeback like the one it did on Friday night in Omaha.

Down 2-0 with under 11 minutes remaining in regulation, the No. 8 Bulldogs struck for three goals in span of eight minutes and pulled out a 3-2 National Collegiate Hockey Conference victory over the University of Nebraska Omaha. It marked the first time since Nov. 10, 2010 that a UMD club had rallied to win after trailing at the second intermission (it was 0-43-3 in that situation). The Bulldogs, now 9-4-0 overall and 5-2-0-0 in the NCHC, extended their winning streak to six games while UNO (6-2-1; 2-1-0-0) saw its six-game unbeaten streak come to an end.

UNO broke a scoreless tie with two goals 87 seconds apart midway through the second period, with the first of those coming from Justin Parizek on the power play at the 11:31 mark. Rookie right winger Karson Kuhlman got UMD on the board with 10:40 to go in the third period when he drove to a net and was credited with is fifth goal of the season after the puck went off him and rolled over the shoulder of Omaha netminder Ryan Massa. Junior defenseman Andy Welinski got the equalizer 3:31 later, taking a pass from Kyle Osterberg and ripping in a shot from between the face off circles for his fifth goal of 2014-15 (equaling a career best). With 2:35 to go in regulation, junior center Cal Decowski capped off the comeback by capitalizing on an Omaha turnover — he picked off pass near the Maverick blue line, broke down the right side, and  then sailed a shot over Massa. The Bulldogs, who have won six of their last seven meetings with Omaha, outshot the Mavericks 16-6 in the third period to finish with a 36-24 advantage on the night.

Rookie goaltender Kasimer Kasimer (8-3-0) had 22 saves for UMD, which won its sixth straight road game and is 6-1-0 away from Duluth this season.

The two teams will meet again at 7:07 p.m. Saturday at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.