(GRAND FORKS, ND) – Home ice was on the line Saturday night for the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team.
Omaha built a 4-0 lead before North Dakota found their legs in the second, but it was not enough as Omaha dominated the Fighting Hawks 7-3 in front of 11,611 fans at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
The loss forces North Dakota go hit the road in the quarterfinal round of the NCHC playoffs.
Sacha Boisvert, Owen McLaughlin and Cameron Berg all scored for North Dakota, who will now travel to Baxter Arena for a rematch with Omaha beginning Friday night. The best-of-three series will determine who advances to the semifinals of the NCHC playoffs at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
For just the fourth time since 2000, North Dakota finishes outside the top four in the league standings. The Fighting Hawks finished with a 14-9-1 NCHC record, placing fifth in the regular season standings.
Friday night’s game begins at 7 p.m.
