Mavs Earn Split Against North Dakota on a Crazy Saturday Night

I didn't get to listen to the hockey game on Saturday night between UNO and North Dakota, and I only got to follow it on Twitter.  (And don't get me started on the lack of television coverage, either...)

But it sounds like it was a crazy night.  Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald summarized the start of the game in one overloaded tweet:

To review the 1st: Matching minors before opening puck drop. Blais ejected at 17:07. Jutts melting down. And 40 minutes remain. Game is 1-1.
— Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) February 9, 2014

And it got even crazier.  North Dakota scored in the opening seconds of the second period, followed by an "own goal", when UNO's Brian O'Rourke knocked the puck past his own goalie.

UNO melting down in North Dakota RT @UNO_Hockey: Schmaltz will get credit for an own goal by the Mavs. Now 3-1 UND.
— Husker Mike (@Husker_Mike) February 9, 2014

But that's as far as it went, because UNO reversed the mojo and scored five unanswered goals to win 6-3.  Another UNO goal was waived off for goalie interference, while one of UNO's goals apparently was an "own goal" by North Dakota.

And that crazy finish just sets up what could be a crazy finish to the season.  Six of the eight NCHC teams are only 4 points apart.  St. Cloud State leads with 30 points, Minnesota-Duluth is second with 28.  UNO and North Dakota are tied with 27, with Denver and Western Michigan tied for fifth with 26 points.

Bottom line down the stretch is every win and loss is magnified down the stretch.  Sweep Denver this next weekend at home, and UNO could conceivably be in first place at the end of the weekend.  Get swept, and UNO could be in sixth place.

Crazy stuff.