Plante’s Overtime Goal Lifts No. 10 UMD Past No. 3 UND

Zam Plante scored with roughly 6.2 seconds remaining in overtime to lift No. 10 Minnesota Duluth to a 3-2 NCHC victory over No. 3 North Dakota at AMSOIL Arena, snapping a four-game losing streak and producing a season-high announced crowd of 6,668.

Hermantown native Zam Plante finished with two goals, including the winner. "Hermantown native Zam Plante scored two goals, including the overtime game-winner, to beat North Dakota and snap a four-game losing streak for UMD," the Duluth News Tribune reported. UMD opened the scoring in the second period when Hunter Anderson converted at 3:06 with a feed from Daniel Shlaine. Plante added a power-play goal at 17:30 of the second period on assists from Jayson Shaugabay and Ty Hanson to make it 2-0 after two.

North Dakota rallied in the third. Ellis Rickwood cut the lead with a shorthanded goal at 10:25, assisted by Mac Swanson and Abram Wiebe. Jack Kernan tied the game at 18:29, with helpers from Ben Striden and Jake Livanavage; the game moved to overtime tied 2-2.

"For a second time this season, the No. 10 University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team and No. 3 University of North Dakota needed overtime to solve their differences, and for a second time, the Bulldogs came out on top," UMD Athletics recapped. The overtime sequence saw a penalty early when Max Plante was whistled for tripping at 1:42, giving UND a 4-on-3 advantage. "Just 1:42 into extra time, UMD's Max Plante was called for tripping, setting up 4-on-3 advantage for UND," the university account noted.

Goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir made 22 saves and was pivotal late. "While the Bulldogs had held the Fighting Hawks without a single shot attempt in their previous two power plays, the Bulldogs leaned heavily on Ethan Dahlmeir in overtime," UMD recapped, adding that Dahlmeir had "four saves on the penalty kill and six in extra time." UND goalie Jan Spunar finished with 29 saves. Regulation shot totals showed UMD outshot UND 32-24; reports also indicate UND recorded six shots in overtime while UMD had one.

The game carried local significance beyond the scoreboard. The announced crowd of 6,668 was 88 tickets short of a sellout at AMSOIL Arena and represented a season high at the venue, with UMD entering the weekend averaging 5,337 fans per game, a figure that ranked 10th in the NCAA and fourth in the NCHC. Duluth's win also ended a seven-game home losing streak to North Dakota that dated to January 2020.

UMD now has its first victory in five games and its second overtime triumph over UND this season. "That rush came with less than seven seconds remaining on the clock when Grayden Siepmann dropped the puck off to his left inside the blueline to Zam Plante. Plante skated in and wristed a shot from the left circle past Spunar to deliver the Bulldogs first win in five games and second overtime triumph over North Dakota of the season," the university recap said.

For St. Louis County fans, the finish delivered both a rivalry thrill and a tangible bump for downtown restaurant and retail foot traffic on a big-game night. North Dakota returns to action under broadcast coverage the following day, and UMD will look to carry momentum through the remaining NCHC schedule.