Tyson Ulmer's 2 power play goals push Red River to win over Mandan in ND boys hockey state quarterfinals

GRAND FORKS — Holding a one-goal lead late in the game, Grand Forks Red River was in need of insurance.

Senior captain Tyson Ulmer provided just that.

With 2:56 remaining, Ulmer struck on the power play for his second goal of the night. From there, Griffen Haagenson’s empty-netter iced it in the waning seconds as the Roughriders picked up a 4-1 win over Mandan during the North Dakota boys hockey state tournament quarterfinals Thursday at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Ulmer’s power play shot came from the bottom of the left circle, beating Mandan goaltender Cooper Anderson short-side to give his team some breathing room.

“That was really big,” Ulmer said. “We kind of struggled (tonight) just getting things on net. I think the shots kind of show how the game was. We just struggled burying our chances, but it was really big to get us that one there at the end.”

The Roughriders outshot the Braves in the contest 38-10.

With the win, East No. 2 seed Red River (14-7-4) advanced to Friday’s state semifinals. The Roughriders will take on West No. 1 Minot (24-1-0) in the day’s second semifinal, 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 5:30 p.m. opener.

Ulmer opened the scoring at the 10:45 mark of the first period, a goal that also came on the power play, to give the Roughriders a 1-0 lead.

Caden Ulmer proceeded to make it 2-0 just 54 seconds into the second period with his seventh of the season.

The score remained 2-0 through two periods, but Mandan opened the third with 1:26 remaining on an extended power play after Red River’s Rylan Bydal was sent off for a boarding major late in the second.

The Braves’ Carson Joersz capitalized on the infraction, putting one by Red River goaltender Rilan Korynta to cut Mandan’s deficit in half and make it a 2-1 game with 15:56 remaining.

Red River fended off the rally from there until Tyson Ulmer’s second power play tally and Haagenson’s empty-netter with four seconds remaining.

“When it’s a one-goal game and it’s late like that in the state tournament, those are the scary moments,” Red River head coach Tim Skarperud said. “But the guys kept battling hard and we got better as the game went on. Obviously, a huge goal there with a couple of minutes left to get a little cushion.”

West No. 3 seed Mandan (11-8-3) will play against East No. 4 Fargo Davies (12-13-0) in the second consolation semifinal Friday, 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 1 p.m. consolation game.

Korynta finished with nine saves in the win for the Roughriders while Anderson recorded 34 saves in the losing effort.

The defending state champions now try to advance to Saturday’s state championship game for the sixth year in a row.

“Just get going right away,” Tyson Ulmer said. “(Today), we had a really poor start. So we really have to be ready right from puck drop, pump a few in early and get going right away.”

FIRST PERIOD: 1, RR, T. Ulmer (Bydal), 10:45.

SECOND PERIOD: 2, RR, C. Ulmer (Bydal, Wasvick), 0:54.

THIRD PERIOD: 3, MAN, Joersz (unassisted), 1:04. 4, RR, T. Ulmer (Rost, Bydal), 14:04. 5, RR, Haagenson (Jackson, Hultberg), 16:56.

SAVES: MAN, C. Anderson 8-9-17—34. RR, Korynta 6-1-2—9.