Solving Fargo Davies goalie Jared Winter was a challenge throughout the East Region tournament.
Grand Forks Central was the latest team to struggle to beat Winter.
But a fluttering point shot and a well-placed screen was enough to give Central the region crown.
Hunter Bjorge's shot through a Will Howard screen gave the Knights a 1-0 victory over Davies on Saturday evening at Purpur Arena.
Bjorge, who scored his fourth goal of the season, scored at 12 minutes, 50 seconds of the second period to give the Knights (21-1-2) their 14th-straight victory.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I kind of whiffed on it," said Bjorge, a junior defenseman. "I got lucky and had a good screen in front."
Central goalie Kaleb Johnson finished with 20 saves, marking his third consecutive shutout.
"I think we played very well," Central coach Grant Paranica said. "That's a real quality opponent. We won a lot of the little battles in the corner and did what we needed to do to win.
"The way the goalies were playing, it took a screen shot to win it. Winter was swallowing up anything he could see, and I don't think he saw all of that one. (Bjorge) threw a little changeup."
Winter finished with 23 saves.
"We did some things well and didn't do some things well," Davies coach Scott Petersen said. "We have to come out with a little more fire ... but we're ready to move on to the Ralph.
"I thought we played close to nine good periods (this tournament). That's what it's going to take next week."
Both teams advance to this weekend's state tournament at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks.
ADVERTISEMENT
Central will play Dickinson in the quarterfinals at 5:30 p.m., while Davies will play Jamestown at about 2:30 p.m.
"We need to come out and play like we did this weekend," Bjorge said.
