GRAND FORKS, N.D. – For the seventh consecutive series between Bemidji State and North Dakota, a game went to overtime.
Both the Beavers and the 14-ranked Fighting Hawks erased one-goal deficits to take a 3-3 tie into an extra session. Neither team scored in the five-minute, 3-on-3 period, extending BSU’s unbeaten streak to five games with a draw.
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This Bemidji State group is no stranger to avoiding the loss column. It went unbeaten in 11 consecutive games prior to the Mason Cup championship last season.
But the new streak comes with more surprise, despite it only being five games.
It started with an upset over Minnesota before a five-point weekend against St. Thomas in CCHA play. The Beavers beat North Dakota for just the sixth time in program history on Friday night before Saturday’s tie.
For the first time in program history, Bemidji State beat UND and the U of M in the same season.
“I’m pretty happy with our month,” sophomore forward Noah Quinn said. “We got better and developed. I like where we’re headed. We’re playing pretty good hockey right now.”
Adam Flammang entered his junior season coming off a big sophomore year. The winger had nine goals and 10 assists in 38 games.
This year, however, Flammang’s offensive struggles have been clear, evident by his one assist in 14 games heading into Saturday’s tilt against the Fighting Hawks.
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“At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t doing the little things right,” Flammang said. “I wasn’t being physical, I wasn’t playing low. Once I started doing that, I started to get more chances. Eventually, I popped one.”
Nine minutes into the first period, Flammang picked Dylan James’ pocket in the neutral zone before rifling a shot off the left post and in to give the Beavers a 1-0 lead.
“I had a slower start than I wanted to this year, so it definitely felt good to finally get one,” Flammang said. “Being a little snakebit is frustrating. Once one goes, sometimes it opens up for you and you’re scoring a bunch. Hopefully, that’s the case this time.”
“It’s nice for him to get a little sugar,” BSU head coach Tom Serratore said. “Hopefully, he builds on it.”
Unfortunately for BSU, North Dakota had a couple of players also looking to find a rhythm offensively.
Owen McLaughlin, who had been held scoreless in each of his eight games this season, picked off Eric Martin’s offensive-zone pass and streaked down the ice on a breakaway. He beat Mattias Sholl to tie the game with 1:36 left in the first period.
The Fighting Hawks weren’t done there. Jake Livanavage tossed a bad-angle shot on goal. Carter Wilkie went unmarked on the back door and tapped home the rebound to put UND ahead with 14 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
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“They took advantage of a couple of miscues,” Serratore said. “(North Dakota) can do that, this building can do that.”
Bemidji State’s lackluster finish to the first period was made up for by an impressive start to the second.
Reilly Funk got a gift. He took a shot that hit Hedquist’s arm and rolled in to tie the game two minutes into the middle frame.
Noah Quinn, who played in just his fourth game this season, regained the lead for the Beavers. Quinn swatted a pick out of mid-air past Hedquist for his second career goal one minute after Funk scored.
“I kind of just took a whack at it, and luckily it went in,” Quinn said. “It’s been a while, I’ve been in and out of the lineup, so it’s a relief to get one. … You want to make the most of your opportunities as much as you can.”
Quinn entered Saturday’s contest with just one point in 22 career games.
“He’s playing desperate, which is good,” Serratore said. “It’s good to play desperate. They want to get in the lineup. Other than the goal, I also thought he managed the puck well, he got up and down the ice. There’s a lot more than just scoring a goal.
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“If you have 300 shifts a year and you have 10 points, what are you doing the other 290? You have to do something that’s productive, and I thought he was productive tonight.”
Quinn’s goal was enough for UND head coach Brad Berry to make a change at goaltender. Hedquist was relieved after stopping five of the eight shots he faced.
In stepped TJ Semptimphelter, who didn’t allow a goal on 18 shots. He made 20 saves at the Sanford Center on Friday night.
“He’s a great goalie,” Flammang said. “He made some big-time saves. I think if we had a couple of guys out front, maybe one would’ve popped through. But he had a great game.”
Once again, though, North Dakota had a response. Jake Schmaltz tied the game two minutes later on a goal that required video review.
Schmaltz dove at a loose puck in front of a Sholl, who sprawled out to make the initial save. Schmaltz’s stick pushed Sholl’s leg into the net, and the puck followed. Serratore challenged the play for goaltender interference, but the goal stood.
“You’re just flipping a coin right there,” Serratore said. “You don’t care if you’re losing your timeout. You have to challenge that because you never know.”
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Neither team scored in the third period. After getting outshot 8-4 in the opening frame, Bemidji State held a 21-13 edge in shots on goal over the final two periods.
“I thought we played a heck of a game,” Serratore said. “It was a 60-minute hockey game by us. I liked our response. … Overall, as the game wore on, we got better. That’s all you want as a coach.”
Bemidji State 3, No. 14 North Dakota 3
BSU 1 2 0 0 – 3
UND 2 1 0 0 – 3
First period – BSU GOAL: Flammang (unassisted) 9:04; UND GOAL: McLaughlin (unassisted) 18:26; UND GOAL: Wilkie (Livanavage, Perron) 19:46.
Second period – BSU GOAL: Funk (Macaulay) 2:14; BSU GOAL: Quinn (Chiddenton, Panzer) 3:03; UND GOAL: Schmatlz (unassisted) 4:02.
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Third period – No scoring.
Saves – Sholl (BSU) 21; Hedquist (UND) 5; Sepmtimphelter (UND) 18.
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