The No. 16 ranked Pioneers took on rival No. 18 University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux this weekend, splitting the series a game apiece. North Dakota entered the series not having lost in its last 10 games. The Sioux pushed that streak to 11, winning the first game 4-2 before Denver rebounded with a 3-0 shutout win on Saturday to ruin their streak.
Friday’s game got out of hand quickly for the Pioneers. Two first period goals by North Dakota’s Michael Parks and Drake Caggiula gave the Sioux a lead that they never relinquished. Ty Loney’s second period power-play goal allowed Denver to pull within one, but two more Sioux goals were more than enough to give North Dakota the win. Trevor Moore added another goal for the Pioneers late in the third period as UND won the game 4-2.
Senior goaltender Sam Brittain was pulled from Friday’s game after allowing the four goals. Freshman Greg Ogard replaced him for the final few minutes, making only one save and did not allow any goals.
“They won every facet of the game, and their coaches prepared their team better than I did our team,” Montgomery said.
While Montgomery admitted to being out-coached, he also gave culpability for the loss to a lack of energy and emotion.
“Mentally we weren’t sharp, and when when you couple that with a lack of emotion and energy, everything is slow,” Montgomery said. “We were so deliberate and so methodical it was painful to watch.”
DU boasts one of the best penalty kill units in the nation, although it was their special teams that let them down Friday, allowing two power play goals and a short handed goal for North Dakota.
The energy was back in Magness Arena for Saturday’s game as the Pioneers rebounded with a big win. Emil Romig scored early in the second period to give Denver the lead. Zac Larraza added two more in the third period, although they proved unnecessary as Sam Brittain was back at the top of his game. Brittain made 43 saves and allowed no goals in an impressive shutout victory.
As one of the biggest rivalries in college hockey, the games proved very physical with a great deal of shoving and fighting taking place. While Coach Montgomery admitted that there was no difference in preparation or mentality heading into the series, there was definitely a difference in play.
“That’s where you saw the rivalry [in the physical play]. People were in each others’ faces. It’s the most trash talking I’ve seen this year between benches,” Montgomery said.
The series was big for both teams as both Denver and North Dakota moved into a two-way tie for first place in the NCHC, moving ahead of St. Cloud State.
The Pioneers are now 13-8-5 overall with a 7-5-2 mark in the conference. DU has this weekend off, and returns to the ice on Feb. 7-8 in Minnesota to take on the Huskies of St. Cloud State. St. Cloud (13-5-4 overall, 7-3-2 in conference) split the series with DU just two weeks ago at Magness Arena.
