Gophers settle for men's hockey series split at North Dakota

As frustrated as Bob Motzko was, the Gophers men's hockey coach still tried to focus on the things he liked about a weekend split at North Dakota. His young team showed him "a ton of positives" in Grand Forks, he said, evidence it is continuing to grow and improve in these early weeks of the season.

But Motzko couldn't ignore the undisciplined play that hurt the No. 1 Gophers in Saturday's 2-1 loss at Ralph Engelstad Arena. They committed six penalties, preventing them from mounting a sustained attack against the No. 5 Fighting Hawks. The result was their first loss of the season, and their fifth split in their past five trips to Grand Forks.

The banged-up Gophers (3-1) lost defenseman Max Rud to injury during the first period, Motzko said, leaving the defense shorthanded for much of Saturday's game. Jayden Perron gave North Dakota (3-1) a 1-0 lead with a goal at 5 minutes, 48 seconds of the second period, and Jake Livanavage made it 2-0 when he scored only 59 seconds into the third.

Jaxon Nelson's goal on a tip at 8 minutes, 4 seconds of the third pulled the Gophers within a goal, but they were unable to get the equalizer despite a spirited late push. North Dakota outshot the Gophers 34-22 and got 21 saves from goaltender Ludvig Persson.

Gophers goaltender Justen Close saw his shutout streak end at 154 minutes, 58 seconds when Perron scored. The fifth-year senior had recorded back-to-back shutouts, including a 4-0 victory in Friday's series opener. Close had 32 saves in another strong performance.

"It's pretty simple," Motzko said. "You can't take the penalties we took. That put us behind the 8-ball.

"We started the second period on the penalty kill, and we had to kill two more. (North Dakota) got momentum, and our D got really tired. We mustered an attack too late."

In Friday's season opener, North Dakota wilted in the second period after playing the Gophers evenly through the first. The Fighting Hawks put on a much better, more consistent performance Saturday, getting to pucks faster and being more persistent.

Three consecutive penalties late in the first period and early in the second slowed the Gophers down after a solid start. They killed the first, then Perron scored at even strength on a redirection after Garrett Pyke sent the puck toward the net from the center point. Penalties at 6:23 and 8:38 of the second helped North Dakota keep the heat on Close, who made several outstanding saves.

The Gophers managed only three shots on goal in the second period. Less than a minute into the third, Livanavage carried the puck into the Gophers' zone and cut into the right circle, slinging a shot that squeaked through Close's pads.

Instead of sagging, the Gophers fought harder, and Nelson cut the lead to 2-1.

"We came out in the third knowing we had to push back," Nelson said. "We battled hard the whole period but just came up short."

Since 1948, the Gophers and North Dakota have played in all but three seasons. Next year will be the fourth without the classic rivalry on the schedule, but Motzko said the interruption will last only one season. The teams plan to start a new four-year deal in 2025-26.

The Star Tribune did not send the writer of this article to the game. This was written using a broadcast, interviews and other material.