No. 10 North Dakota beat No. 5 Western Michigan 4-1 on Saturday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, taking the second game of the teams’ NCHC-opening series. Croal scored twice for the Fighting Hawks, and Adam Benák scored for the Broncos for the second straight night. Western Michigan is 6-2-1, and North Dakota is 5-3-1. A crowd of 11,622 attended.
How it happened
North Dakota scored twice in the first period. Lindberg opened the scoring 1:14 into the game, assisted by Josephson and Croal, and Reschny made it 2-0 at 8:42 from Swanson. Croal added a third goal at 7:54 of the second period, set up by Lindberg and Reschny.
Western Michigan got on the board at 8:23 of the third period when Benák scored his fifth goal of the season, assisted by Theo Wallberg. The Broncos could not get closer, and Croal hit the empty net at 17:57.
In goal and on special teams
Quentin Miller made 24 saves on 27 shots for Western Michigan, and Špunar stopped 17 of 18 for North Dakota. UND outshot the Broncos 28-18. Neither power play scored: Western Michigan went 0-for-3 and North Dakota 0-for-5.
What’s next
Western Michigan returns to Lawson Arena to host Colorado College on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m.
Friday’s game: Western Michigan Game Recap: at North Dakota (Nov. 6).
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