North Dakota became first team to win three straight WCHA playoff championships. But the Fighting Sioux sure aren't finished with this season.
Brock Nelson and Carter Rowney scored 46 seconds apart in the first period for North Dakota in a 4-0 victory over Denver Pioneers (25-13-4) on Saturday.
Michael Parks added a power-play goal in the second period and Aaron Dell made 22 saves for his ninth career shutout to improve to 6-0 in WCHA playoff games over three seasons with the Fighting Sioux (24-13-3). Mark MacMillan's short-handed breakaway shot in the third period knocked the water bottle off the top of the net and sealed their seventh consecutive victory overall and 13th WCHA playoff win in a row.
North Dakota could be the No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament, which will likely be on the same ice next weekend. The Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild, is one of the four regional sites.
North Dakota fell behind Minnesota in the first period on Friday, before the Fighting Sioux stormed back to stun the Golden Gophers with the rally of all rallies.
Mario Lamoureux scored twice during a five-goal third period for North Dakota in a 6-3 victory over Minnesota, the WCHA regular season champion, on Friday in the WCHA semifinals.
Michael Parks and Brock Nelson scored 30 seconds apart to tie the game, and Corban Knight also got a goal.
