The University of North Dakota, now at the top of the WCHA standings, conducted a clinic proving why they belong there.

The Fighting Sioux turned the tables on Colorado College on Saturday, earning a split of their two-game weekend series with a thoroughly convincing 6-0 victory at the World Arena. Now 19-8-2 overall and 14-6 in conference play, they moved past idle Denver into first place with the triumph.

The Tigers, who saw their modest three-game winning streak come to an unceremonious end, dropped to 15-12-1 overall and 9-9 in WCHA play. They remain tied with the University of Minnesota for sixth in the league standings, thanks to Alaska Anchorage's 1-0 triumph over the Gophers in Minneapolis.  

North Dakota, which scored four times in the second period, put the game away with a pair of tallies just 55 seconds apart late in the frame. Those two goals – by seniors Matt Frattin and Derek LaPoint – gave the No. 4-ranked Sioux a 5-0 cushion entering the final stanza, and CC never recovered from the shock.

While six different UND players scored in the rout, sophomore right winger Danny Kristo – last season's WCHA Freshman of the Year – helped set up three of the red lighters. Sophomore goaltender Aaron Dell bounced back from Friday's 4-2 loss to the Tigers to stop all 21 shots they managed to launch on net, including just eight through the opening 40 minutes of play. 

The Fighting Sioux, meanwhile, sent 32 attempts at CC goalies Joe Howe and Josh Thorimbert. Howe, who left the game with an injury early in the third period, gave up all six North Dakota goals while making 24 saves. Thorimbert faced only two shots in the final 17:35 of the contest as his teammates unsuccessfully tried to prevent Dell from posting his fourth shutout of the campaign.

Freshman left wing Brock Nelson, who scored UND's first goal at 5:03 of the opening stanza, added an assist in the victory. Brett Hextall, Carter Rowney and Joe Gleason also scored for the Sioux.