Sure, it's only November, but this heated rivalry amongst two of the top three teams in the country felt like a late season classic throughout its entirety.

The third ranked Fighting Hawks found themselves down 3-0 midway through the second period to the top ranked Denver Pioneers and thinks looked pretty bleak, but UND had other ideas.

The first sign of life came when Zach Yon got the Fighting Hawks on the board with just under six and a half minutes remaining in the second period. Less than two minutes later, it was Joel Janatuinen finding the back of the net to cut the lead to 3-2. That was the score when both teams entered the third period.

Less than five minutes into the third period, this happened.

Poolman's goal would tie it 3-3. UND would go on the power play within the next minute before striking again.

Denver wasn't finished. With under nine minutes to play, Pioneers Troy Terry put one past UND goalie Peter Thome to tie at 4-4. It wasn't shocking at all that this game would come down to the final minutes.

With under three minutes to play, UND had the puck in Denver's zone, before finishing it off.

Johnny Simonson's go-ahead goal turned out to be the game winner as UND takes the thriller, 5-4. Thome stopped 30 of 34 shots in goal for the Fighting Hawks.

UND moves to 7-2-3 while Denver drops to 6-2-2. The two teams will meat again tonight in Denver.

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