No. 8 North Dakota rallied twice to tie No. 4 Michigan State, but Cayden Lindstrom scored 19 seconds after Cooper Simpson’s late power-play equalizer, and the Spartans added an empty-net goal for a 5-3 win in Austin. Simpson scored the first two goals of his collegiate career, while Will Zellers had a goal and an assist.

By the Numbers
  • North Dakota: 4-3-0; Michigan State: 5-1-0.
  • Simpson: 2 goals; Zellers: 1 goal, 1 assist.
  • North Dakota went 2-for-7 on the power play; Michigan State went 1-for-4.
  • Shots: North Dakota 35, Michigan State 33. Caleb Heil made 28 saves.
  • Attendance: 6,483. The game featured 13 first-round picks.
Yes, But

North Dakota showed resilience, erasing two deficits and tying the game with less than four minutes left. But a quick Michigan State response ended the comeback, extending the Fighting Hawks’ losing streak to three games.

State of Play
  • North Dakota has lost three straight for the first time since October-November 2024.
  • The Fighting Hawks have scored at least one power-play goal in every game this season.
  • UND returns home to open NCHC play against Western Michigan on Friday at 7:07 p.m. CT.
What's Next

North Dakota opens conference play at Ralph Engelstad Arena, with the game airing on Midco Sports, NCHC.tv and the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.

Bottom Line

North Dakota generated offense and repeatedly fought back, but late-game defensive lapses proved costly. The home opener offers a chance to reset as conference play begins.