ST. CLOUD - The #5 St. Cloud State Huskies bounced back and picked up a crucial 3-1 victory over the University of North Dakota on Saturday.

The Huskies now have 42 points in the NCHC, moving them back into a first place tie with North Dakota. SCSU will have a chance at the NCHC title when they travel to face Colorado College next weekend. North Dakota will host Western Michigan for its chance at the title.

UND led off the scoring in the first period, Rocco Grimaldi scored a shorthanded goal to give North Dakota a 1-0 lead.

Joey Benik tied the game for the Huskies just over a minute later with his second goal of the series.

In the second period, Cory Thorson would score the go-ahead goal for SCSU. It was Thorson's ninth goal of the season.

Kevin Gravel would seal the win for the Huskies with an empty net goal late in the third, making it 3-1 Huskies.

UND outshot SCSU 34-32 in the contest. Ryan Faragher had a stellar game in front of the net, making 33 saves for his 17th win of the season.

St. Cloud State improves to 19-8-5 overall and 13-6-3-0 in the NCHC with the win. UND is now 19-10-3 and 14-8-0-0 in the NCHC after the weekend series. The win secures home ice for SCSU in the first round of the NCHC playoffs on March 14-16.

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