Box Score | Highlights from NCHC.tv

Nick Schmaltz scored twice and second-ranked North Dakota connected four times on the power play Friday night to defeat Colorado College, 7-1, in the first game of the NCHC quarterfinal series in Grand Forks, N.D.
 
Schmaltz scored the first of his two goals with just 21.4 seconds remaining in the first period to give North Dakota a 2-0 lead. It marked the 14^th time this season that CC allowed a goal in the final minute of a period. Earlier in the frame, UND capitalized on an offensive zone penalty as Luke Johnson fired a one-timer off the post and in past freshman Jacob Nehama for a power-play goal with 4:33 left in the first period.
 
"We played well for the first 15 minutes and weathered the storm early with some big saves," head coach Mike Haviland said. "Then we take an offensive penalty and give up another score in the last minute of the period."
 
Freshman Tanner Ockey cut the UND lead in half with his second career goal at the 15:42 mark of the second period. Fellow freshman Cole McCaskill gathered the puck after a UND turnover and found Mason Bergh, who fed Ockey for a wrister from the right circle that eluded UND netminder Cam Johnson.
 
That momentum didn't last long as freshman Jake Emilio took a tripping penalty just six seconds after Ockey's goal and Joel Janatuinen took a feed from Austin Poganski and beat Nehama from the slot to make it 3-1 with 3:24 remaining in the second period.
 
"After we score, we take an undisciplined penalty and they take advantage," Haviland said. "We have the momentum, then give it right back to them after the faceoff."
 
The Fighting Hawks (29-5-3) blew the game wide open with four goals in the third period. Coltyn Sanderson made it 4-1 at the 4:30 mark of the third period when he took a pass from Christian Wolanin behind the net and beat Nehama with a wraparound shot. Schmaltz made it 5-1 with his second of the game, then Hayden Shaw and Shane Gersich scored in the last three minutes for the final margin.
 
North Dakota's four power-play goals were the most allowed by CC (6-28-1) this season, while the Tigers scored on one of its two man-advantage opportunities.
 
Nehama finished the game with 27 saves and Johnson had 15 for UND.
 
The Tigers will attempt to keep the season alive tomorrow night in game two of the best-of-three series beginning at 6:37 p.m. (MT).