Kessel's goal, assist help Gophers beat North Dakota in WCHA tournament

Amanda Kessel still is skating off rust after missing nearly two years because of concussion symptoms. But try telling that to Gophers opponents.

With her high-octane skills, Kessel produced a goal and an assist Saturday, as Minnesota defeated North Dakota 2-0 in the WCHA tournament semifinals at Ridder Arena.

The Gophers (32-3-1) will meet Wisconsin in Sunday's final, which will be televised live at 2 p.m. on FSN. Win or lose, both squads are expected to earn top four seeds later in the day, when the eight-team NCAA tournament field is announced.

Needing a victory to keep its season alive, North Dakota (18-12-5) fell behind in the first period after Kessel drew a tripping penalty. On the power play, Kessel fed defenseman Sydney Baldwin, who rifled her fifth goal into an upper corner.

Kessel made it 2-0 in the second period, when she kicked a pass from Hannah Brandt out of her skates and put a shot past Shelby Amsley-Benzie. The senior goalie blocked the puck only to see it bounce behind her, into the goal.

Two Gophers penalties gave North Dakota a 5-on-3 advantage to start the third, but Minnesota killed those off without allowing a shot on goal.

The key? "I'll give you a couple: It was Hannah Brandt and Amanda Kessel," Fighting Hawks coach Brian Idalski said. "They were stepping up and being super aggressive and challenging us and didn't let us have any space. With a 5-on-3, that was a little demoralizing."

In the other semifinal, Ann-Renee Desbiens notched her 19th shutout of the season, extending her NCAA record, as Wisconsin cruised past Minnesota Duluth 5-0.

The Gophers swept Wisconsin two weeks ago, but the Badgers (33-3-1) still won the WCHA regular-season title by a point. The stakes are higher now, and Kessel is regaining her form.

"It's amazing," she said. "Everybody else is at the end of the year. It's like they're tired, but I'm peaking and feeling good."

When the senior returned Feb. 5 against UND, she hadn't played since the 2014 Olympics. In her nine games back, she has six goals and five assists.

"Any time you add a top-five player in the world, it's going to make you a little bit better," Idalski said. "They were already good to begin with."