The University of Denver Pioneers (9-3-2, NCHC 5-3-0-0) earned their second-consecutive one-goal victory en route to a weekend sweep against the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (7-8-2, 2-6-0-0) on Saturday at AMSOIL Arena.
With the sweep over last year’s national championship runners-up, Denver keeps pace in the highly competitive NCHC.
Neither team mustered much offense in the first period despite both having a chance on the power play.
The tight-checking style of play continued through the majority of the second period, limiting scoring chances for both teams before Denver broke through with 21 seconds remaining in the frame. Jarid Lukosevicus made it 1-0 after Colin Staub centered a puck from the end boards and Logan O’Connor tapped a short pass to Lukosevicus who patiently put the puck around Bulldogs goalie Hunter Shepard. The Pioneers held a 1-0 lead through 40 minutes.
Minnesota Duluth answered Denver’s lone goal at 8:32 of the third period when a shot from the slot resulted in a rebound for Blake Young. Young spun around on the rebound and put a shot through the five-hole of Tanner Jaillet to make it 1-1.
Jake Durflinger broke the tie at 15:56 of the third period, following up on a rebound created by Kohen Olischefski who drove the net off the right-wing side. Tariq Hammond had the secondary assist on the game-winning goal.
Jaillet finished with 27 saves. Denver went 0/2 on the power play and 2/2 on the penalty kill. He recorded a 28-save shutout as the Pioneers defeated the Bulldogs, 1-0, at AMSOIL Arena on Friday night.
