Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

DENVER - The North Dakota Fighting Sioux received a pair of tallies from WCHA goal-scoring leader Ryan Duncan and a 28-save shutout from junior netminder Philippe Lamoureux en route to a 3-0 victory over the Denver Pioneers in a WCHA contest before a sellout crowd of 6,108 at Magness Arena. UND improved to 18-12-4, 12-10-4 following the victory, while the Pioneers dropped to 21-12-3, 13-10-3.

Despite the loss, the Pioneers clinched home ice during the first round of the WCHA playoffs courtesy of Michigan Tech's 4-2 victory over Wisconsin tonight.

"Their power play functioned very well and scored two big goals for them. They were a little bit better than us in that department and that was the difference in the game," said Denver head coach George Gwozdecky. "While we're disappointed to lose the game, we're pleased to have home ice in the first round of the playoffs."

UND scored the lone goal of the first period at the 17:17 mark on a Duncan power-play tally that was fired past the outstretched glove of DU junior goaltender Peter Mannino (Farmington Hills, Mich.).

The Fighting Sioux went on to take a three-goal lead after two periods. Rylan Kaip's marker from the slot off a feed from Robbie Bina at 6:57 gave UND a 2-0 advantage before Duncan beat Mannino (17 saves) on a shot from the goalmouth for a 5-on-3 power-play tally at 11:56.

The teams battled to a stalemate in the third period, with DU outshooting UND by an 8-6 margin.

UND finished 2-of-7 on the power play, while DU went 0-for-6. The Pioneers finished with a 28-20 shot advantage.

DU plays its final regular season contests March 2-3 when it faces Colorado College in a home-and-home series. The Pioneers host the Tigers on Friday night with puck drop scheduled for 7:07 p.m. MT, while Saturday's game at World Arena is scheduled for 8:07 p.m.

Notes: Tickets for DU's first round WCHA home playoff series on March 9-11 go on sale Monday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. Tickets for the best two-of-three series can be purchased at the Ritchie Center North Box Office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 303-830-TIXS ... Volunteer assistant coach Matt Laatsch, who underwent gall bladder surgery tonight, missed this weekend's series ... The Pioneers were last held scoreless on Jan. 6 when Wisconsin's Brian Elliott recorded a 33-save shutout in a 4-0 Badger victory.