Jason Gregoire’s goal late in the second period proved to be the game-winner as North Dakota beat Minnesota 4-1 in the clinching game of their Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff series.

The Fighting Sioux (22-12-5) won the best-of-three series two games to one Sunday to advance to the WCHA Final Five.

The loss by the Gophers ended their streak of 11 straight WCHA Final Five appearances.

Gregoire had a goal and two assists.

“Put your stick on the ice and you’ll get lucky every now and then,” Gregoire said. Gregoire’s goal was a deflection of Danny Kristo’s shot.

Matt Frattin added an insurance goal, his fourth goal of the series, midway through the third period.

Frattin sat out the first semester while serving a suspension, but has played a key role in UND’s late-season surge.

“He made the right choices, and he’s worked his way back to where we hoped he’d be — maybe ahead,” North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol said.

Gregoire passed up an empty-netter in the closing seconds, instead feeding the puck to Brett Hextall for a goal.

North Dakota won the series opener 6-0 on Friday, but the Gophers evened things with their first playoff win in Grand Forks 4-2 on Saturday.

Ben Blood’s first career power-play goal at 4:59 of the first period gave North Dakota the lead.

Jake Hansen tied it on Minnesota’s first shot on goal. But North Dakota regained momentum by killing off a five-minute penalty on Frattin, who knocked out Minnesota’s Kevin Wehrs along the board in the second period, prompting a minor skirmish.

Brad Eidsness had 18 saves for UND and Alex Kangas made 25 for the Gophers (18-19-2).