On a return to Magness Arena, the no. 7 Pioneers secured a win and NCHC point against NCHC rival North Dakota Fighting Hawks. The Pioneers are now 15-6-4 on the season and 7-6-2-2 in the NCHC.
On Friday night, North Dakota got a fast start against the Pioneers in the first period as they outshot the Pioneers 19-6. However, the Pioneers were first on the board as sophomore Jaakko Heikkinen (Helsinki, Finland) settled a pass from freshman Tyler Ward (Kamloops, B.C.) to supply sophomore Jake Durflinger (Walnut Creek, Calif.) with an assist at 8:48 to put the Pioneers up 1-0. The second period brought a more balanced approach to the game for the Pioneers as it became more physical. The Pioneers were able to increase their lead at 2:48 as junior Tyson McLellan (San Jose, Calif.) sent the puck to the right-wing side for the crashing sophomore Ryan Barrow (Banff, Alberta) to put the Pioneers up 2-0. The third period would become quiet until a few shots from the Pioneers got close to increasing the lead. North Dakota decided to fight back as a loose puck in front of the net left freshman Filip Larsson (Stockholm, Sweden) helpless as the Fighting Hawks pulled within one. The Fighting Hawks would try to equalize but to no avail due to Denver’s goalkeeping. Larsson made 45 saves against North Dakota, 15 of the 45 saves coming in the second period to help propel the Pioneers to a win.
On Saturday night, the Pioneers and North Dakota tied 1-1 before freshman Brett Stapley (Campbell River, B.C.) was able to secure the NCHC extra point for the Pioneers in three-on-three overtime.
Early in the first period, North Dakota was called for a five-minute major and game misconduct to the head. Thirty seconds later, North Dakota was called for tripping. The Pioneers did not capitalize on the five-on-three power play, but junior Liam Finlay (Kelowna, B.C.) scored when North Dakota returned to full strength during a drive to the net. Sophomore Ian Mitchell (Calahoo, Alberta) and Barrow went down with the assists. The Fighting Hawks almost tied the game at 11:25 in the second period, but the goal was eventually disallowed after goalie interference was determined during video review. The Fighting Hawks would tie the game at one each with 13 seconds left in the second period. Neither team was able to get a winning goal in the third period. However, North Dakota came close with 3.8 seconds left in the game, but Larsson shot out of his crease to deny the shot. Larsson continued to display his strengths as Denver’s goalkeeper as he shut down multiple two-on-one opportunities and ended the night with 34 saves. In the NCHC overtime period, junior Michael Davies (St. Louis, MO.) fed the puck to Stapley in the neutral zone, and Stapley took it from there. He danced around a defender and chipped the puck into the back of the net for the overtime win.
This weekend stretch helped place the Pioneers in fourth place in the NCHC standings, three points ahead of North Dakota with one fewer game played. The Pioneers will be traveling during the Feb. 15 and Feb. 16 weekend to no. 3 Minnesota Duluth for a hard-fought battle. The Pioneers upset the then no. 1 Minnesota Duluth the last time the two teams squared off this season and will hope to repeat their winning ways.
