Minnesota, North Dakota play to wild 5-5 tie

MINNEAPOLIS -- Storied college hockey rivals North Dakota and Minnesota resumed their historic feud after a three-year absence and immediately proceeded to punch and counter-punch their way to an exhilarating 5-5 overtime tie.

The 285th varsity clash between the two teams was a one-night encapsulation of the 60-plus year rivalry, featuring 10 goals, 23 penalties, 62 penalty minutes and dueling chants between a pair of frothing-at-the mouth fanbases.

: #Gophers Highlights from tonight's battlehttps://t.co/xxaKNcVDAy

— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) November 5, 2016

But while the product on the ice very much pleased the 9,939 in attendance, the third-ranked Fighting Hawks left the arena with a bad taste in their collective mouths after losing four leads, three in the final period.

“Guys aren’t happy,” said UND defenseman Tucker Poolman. “We felt like we left stuff on the table.”

Poolman scored what appeared to be the game-wnning goal 1:59 left in regulation, overpowering Minnesota netminder Eric Schierhorn with a wrist shot from the slot to put UND on top 5-4. But, as they did all night, the No. 13 Golden Gophers responded immediately.

With Schierhorn on the bench for an extra attacker, Tommy Novak came off the bench and blasted a one-timer past UND goalie Cam Johnson to tie the game at 5-5 – his second goal of the game -- just 42 seconds after Poolman had given the visitors the lead.

Three times UND held a one-goal lead in the third period, and three times Minnesota was able to tie the game.

“Right now, it’s the small details that’s getting us,” said UND head coach Brad Berry. “It’s undisciplined penalties, it’s puck management in times when we need to get pucks deep. For the most part, loved our effort tonight. But we have to make sure the small details get taken care of.”

UND, which dropped a pair of losses at Minnesota Duluth last weekend, came out flying in the opening minutes tonight.

Sophomore defenseman Hayden Shaw, back in the lineup after a two-game injury absence, opened the scoring 95 seconds in when his shot from the side wall found its way through traffic and past Schierhorn.

Shaw sneakin' it through traffic. pic.twitter.com/gsAiXItFMD

— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) November 5, 2016

Just over six minutes later, Austin Poganski deflected a Christian Wolanin point shot while on the power play and the Fighting Hawks and a 2-0 lead on their first three shots on goal. But penalty troubles caught up to UND and Vinni Lettieri and Novak each scored with the man advantage in the final nine minutes of the period to send the teams to the locker rooms tied 2-2.

Tommy Novak ties it! @GopherMHockey and North Dakota are live on #FOXSportsGO: https://t.co/UbRLzRA6r7 pic.twitter.com/tRx4KyeuY2

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) November 5, 2016

After UND was outshot 15-3 in the opening frame, things leveled out in the middle period with the Fighting Hawks holding a slim 7-6 margin in that category. Neither team found the net, setting the stage for a wild 6-goal third period. Sophomore Brock Boeser regained the North Dakota lead just 44 seconds into the third, one-timing a Tyson Jost centering pass from on top of the crease. However, the Gopher power-play responded once again, this time Tyler Sheehy lifted a backhander from the slot over Cam Johnson with 12:15 remaining.

Jost pushed UND back ahead at 11:17, walking out from the end boards, cutting through a tight space in front and wrapping the puck around the far pad of Schierhorn. With just over eight minutes left on the clock, UND was back on top courtesy of Jost’s third goal of the year.

Hey @Avalanche, you're going to like this. And so do we for anyone asking. pic.twitter.com/zpmiJIDmBZ

— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) November 5, 2016

“He’s a huge competitor. He loves this stage as far as when games are on the line,” said Berry.

However, Brent Gates, Jr., squared things up two-and-a-half minutes later with another open look from the slot. Poolman and Novak then traded their goals in the final two minutes and nothing would be decided in overtime despite a combined seven shots on goal and one last Gopher power play.

Another goal, another tie!

Gates scores for @GopherHockey and we're headed for a wild finish! Catch the game: https://t.co/UbRLzRA6r7 pic.twitter.com/UueNENMOks

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) November 5, 2016

The rivals meet again on Saturday night at 8 p.m. CT.