WCHA: UMD, MSU Mankato win, Bemidji St.-UNO tie

Minnesota Duluth is the hottest team in the WCHA now. The Bulldogs are unbeaten in seven games (5-0-2) after being swept at home by the Gophers.

On Friday, UMD beat Alaska Anchorage 5-0 at Amsoil Arena, scoring three goals in 1:45 early in the opening period. Joe Bararaba got the first, Chris Casto the second 36 seconds later, then senior center Jack Connolly the third. Jake Hendrickson and Travis Oleksuk finished the scoring. For Oleksuk, it was his 11th goal of the season.

Kenny Reiter made 27 saves for the shutout, his third in four games and ninth of his career.

UAA, which hadn't played since being swept by the Gophers, is now 0-5-0 in its last five games, all in WCHA play. And in those games, the Seawolves have scored four goals. The Duluth News-Tribune story is here.

The Gophers are still alone in first place in the WCHA at 6-1-0 for 12 points, but now there is a four-team pack tied for second place with nine.

UMD and Nebraska Omaha are both 4-2-1, Michigan Tech 4-3-1 and Wisconsin 4-4-1.

Tied for sixth are Colorado College (3-1-0) and Denver (2-2-2) with six points. They play on Saturday in Denver.

Junior forward Eli Zuck's shorthanded goal was the game-winner for the Mavericks at home. J.P. Burkemper, Zach Palmquist and Cameron Cooper had the other MSU goals.

Brooks Bertsch and Cory Thorson scored for the Huskies, who play the Gophers in a home and home series next weekend.

Goalies Austin Lee of MSU Mankato and Ryan Faragher of SCSU both had 34 saves and both teams were 0x5 on the power play. The Mankato Free Press story is here,

Bemidji State, Nebraska Omaha 3, overtime, tie

The Beavers continued their hex UNO. After taking a 100-foot pass, junior forward Jordan George scored with 58 seconds left in the third period to tie the score at 3-all at the Sanford Center.

UNO outshot the Beavers 43-25 and took a 3-2 lead when Jayson Megna scored with two seconds left in the middle period.

Ben Kinne and Brady Wacker had the other Bemidji State goals while goalie Dan Bakala made a season-high 40 saves.