On the scoresheet, it was another decisive win for a North Dakota men's hockey team that has had plenty since the turn of the year.

So what does it say about the performance of Fighting Sioux senior goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureux that anyone who watched Saturday afternoon's NCAA tournament Midwest Regional semifinal at the Kohl Center would tell you he was the difference in the 5-1 scoreline?

In a display of lethal efficiency, top-seeded North Dakota emerged from its matchup with fourth-seeded Princeton despite being outshot 39-18 and getting admittedly outworked by the Tigers.

The Fighting Sioux, who improved their tournament record to 39-17 -- their .696 winning percentage is tops in the nation -- tied their season-worst for shots allowed (they allowed 39 in a 4-2 win over Minnesota Dec. 7).

"You have to find ways to win games this time of year," said North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol, whose team is 18-2-3 in its past 23 games. "And we found a way to win a game and advance, and that's what it's all about."

The Fighting Sioux's method was capitalizing on the high-grade chances that came their way -- they were 2-for-4 on the power play -- and relying on Lamoureux, a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award along with junior center T.J. Oshie, to smother what Princeton threw at him.

"Every time they had an opportunity, I knew it was coming to the net," said Lamoureux, who came into the game leading the nation in goals-against average at 1.65. "So I just had to be ready and be prepared to control on rebounds, making sure I retained as many pucks as I could."

His biggest moment came early in the second period with North Dakota up 1-0 thanks to junior left wing Andrew Kozek's first-period, power-play conversion. With the Fighting Sioux on the man advantage again, Tigers sophomore center Mark Magnowski found himself alone in front of goal.

But by the time he could collect the puck, Lamoureux slid across to deny him before stuffing several rebound chances.

"I thought we played well five-on-five, but didn't solve Lamoureux, and their great talent shown through on the chances they got and they buried them," Princeton coach Guy Gadowsky said.

Three seconds after Princeton had killed off the penalty, North Dakota added its second on the first of junior left wing Ryan Duncan's three goals.

"That series in particular, it was big for our team," Lamoureux said of his saves on Magnowski, "because we went down, we got the power-play goal from Ryan. What else can you say? He scores timely goals for us this time of year, and he showed why he's a Hobey Baker winner."

The same might be able to be said about Lamoureux, who would have blanked the Tigers -- who, oddly enough, play at Hobey Baker Rink -- were it not for Cam MacIntyre's goal in the final minute.

"He should be in high consideration," said Duncan, last year's award winner. "He's done that all year long for us. He was the difference in the game."