Feb. 9, 2002

Box Score

DENVER - Junior Greg Barber (Kelowna, B.C.) and freshman Connor James (Calgary, Alberta), who snapped a three-game pointless streak, each tallied two points and sophomore netminder Adam Berkhoel (Woodbury, Minn.) stopped 24 shots but it was not enough as No. 1 University of Denver skated to a 3-3 draw against Western Collegiate Hockey Association opponent Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday night (Feb. 9) at Magness Arena. The Pioneers (35 points), earning their first tie of the season and first since Feb. 16, 2001 against North Dakota, maintained their lead in the WCHA standings with a one-point advantage over St. Cloud State, who now has 34 points after earning a weekend sweep over Michigan Tech.

Neither team was able to operate offensively for much of the first period as both defensive units closed passing lanes and clogged play in the neutral zone, but Barber, for the second straight night, broke the scoreless tie late in the opening frame to extend his scoring streak to three games (4g, 1a - 5p). The sophomore duo of James, and defenseman Ryan Caldwell (Deloraine, Manitoba) set up the power play marker from the point before Caldwell fired a one-timer towards the net that was re-directed by Barber. Minnesota-Duluth (11-19-2, 4-16-2) appeared to silence the Pioneers when forward Mark Carlson tied the game on a short-handed possession minutes later, but sophomore Lukas Dora (Lednice, Czech Republic) converted on Denver's (24-5-1, 17-4-1) power play forty-six seconds later to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.

The Bulldogs stormed out of the locker room and knotted the game with a power play goal thirty-two seconds into the middle period that snapped Denver's consecutive home penalty-killing streak at 40. Judd Medak registered his team-leading 13th goal of the season with a slap shot from the blue line that beat Berkhoel over the glove shoulder. The see saw battle continued as the Pioneers regained the lead on a goal by junior Kevin Doell (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), who extended his scoring streak to three games with his 14th goal of the year. Denver held onto the one goal advantage for the majority of the second period before UMD answered with their second man-advantage goal of the night to equalize the tilt going into the second recess.

Despite out-shooting the Bulldogs 15-8 in the third frame, Denver failed to capitalize on scoring chances down the stretch and was forced to skate in its first extra period of the season and first since Nov. 2, 2001 against Colorado College. The Pioneers dominated the five-minute overtime and were awarded a power play with one minute and 23 seconds remaining, but UMD netminder Adam Coole maintained his poise in the waning seconds to preserve the tie. Denver wins the season series against UMD 3-1, but failed to win its fourth contest when posting at least 40 shots.

For the game, Denver out-shot the Bulldogs 43-24 and held the advantage in face-offs 46-42, but struggled on special teams by allowing a short-handed tally and two UMD power play goals. The Pioneers converted twice in six man-advantage tries.

The Pioneers return to action next weekend (Feb. 15-16) when they travel north to battle Wisconsin in a crucial two-game WCHA series. Both games, which will begin at 6:05 p.m. mountain time, are scheduled to air live on Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain.