Omaha played with heart, but heart can only take you so far when North Dakota can flip a game in an instant. The Mavericks scored first and stayed competitive for a period and a half, but the Fighting Hawks did what they’ve done in their previous six games — win. Dawson Cowan made 28 saves, but it wasn’t enough as Omaha was swept on the weekend with a 3-1 loss. The Mavericks dropped all four matchups against North Dakota this season.
Neither team gained an edge in the first period. Each side killed off a two-minute penalty, with Omaha producing the only shot on either power play. North Dakota outshot Omaha 13-8 through 20 minutes.
The pace picked up in the second. Omaha struck first on a goal from Cameron Briere, who buried a one-timer off of a perfect feed from Jeremy Loranger just 1:29 into the period. North Dakota tied it less than a minute later, then took the lead with a goal in the final three seconds of the frame.
Omaha pushed back, generating several quality chances to even the score, but nothing went their way. The Mavericks went on the power play with just under nine minutes left but struggled to establish any offensive-zone possession and failed to record a shot. North Dakota sealed the win with an empty-netter with 43 seconds remaining.
Omaha has now lost eight of its last ten, dating back to its first series against North Dakota. The Mavericks fall to 6-10-0 overall and 3-7-0 in the NCHC.
The Mavericks will look to bounce back against Augustana on Dec. 19–20 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.Â