DULUTH, Minn. — Red Savage scored for the third time in the last four games to pull Miami within a goal of No. 7/7 Minnesota Duluth early in the third period, but the RedHawks' road upset bid ultimately fell short in a 4-1 defeat Friday night at Amsoil Arena.
 
In a game that remained scoreless for more than 35 minutes, Ludvig Persson made 29 saves to keep Miami (4-16-1, 1-10-0 NCHC) close. UMD (12-8-1, 5-3-1 NCHC) broke through with three goals in the final frame to pull away down the stretch.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• 16:31 2nd (UMD 1-0) | The Bulldogs found the game's opening goal late in the second period. Waiting at the back goalpost, Blake Biondi was able to just get enough of a pass across the crease from Darian Gotz to poke it past Persson into the net. Quinn Olson had the secondary assist for UMD.
• 2:26 3rd (UMD 2-0) | Casey Gilling doubled Minnesota Duluth's advantage early in the third stanza, finishing with his backhand after a pass in from Kobe Roth. Owen Gallatin also had an assist on the play for the Bulldogs.
• 4:26 3rd (Miami 2-1) | Savage got Miami on the board two minutes later, as Hampus Rydqvist brought the puck into the zone and found Matthew Barbolini along the boards. Barbolini was able to spin free from a defender and feed PJ Fletcher, who promptly slid the puck along to Savage in front. Although the freshman's first shot didn't quite get past UMD goalie Ryan Fanti, Savage stuck with the play and knocked his second attempt home.
• 10:22 3rd (UMD 3-1) | The first power play goal of the night gave the Bulldogs some breathing room. Koby Bender's shot from the left circle, off assists from Connor Kelley and Gilling, put UMD on top 3-1.
• 12:15 3rd (UMD 4-1) | Minnesota Duluth struck again less than two minutes later. Miami had the puck in the attacking zone, but lost it trying to fire a long-range shot. That led to an odd-man rush the other way, with UMD's Dominic James feeding Olson for a 2-on-1 finish.

 
GAME NOTES:

• Savage, the reigning NCHC Rookie of the Week, was credited with a game-high and career-high seven shots on goal. His previous career high was four.
• Miami finished 0-5 on the power play, while UMD was 1-3.
• The RedHawks won 26 draws, with the Bulldogs controlling 28.
• Fletcher has points in six of his last eight games for Miami; Barbolini has found the scoresheet in six of his last nine.

WHAT'S NEXT:
The RedHawks and Bulldogs will face off again Saturday in Duluth to conclude the two-game series. Puck drop is set for 8:07 p.m. ET.