DENVER Tyler Bozak (Regina, Saskatchewan) and Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) recorded a goal and an assist apiece and senior netminder Peter Mannino (Farmington Hills, Mich.) made 30 saves as the No. 7 Denver Pioneers (19-8-1, 13-6-1 WCHA) topped No. 20 University of Minnesota (12-13-7, 6-11-5 WCHA) by a 4-1 count tonight in front of 6,097 fans at Magness Arena.

Mannino, who moved his record to 18-8-1 on the season, allowed only one goal in each regular-season meeting with Minnesota this year as the Pioneers improved to 3-0-1 against the Gophers.

“Peter had a huge weekend when we needed it from him. Like the true competitor he is, he responded,” Denver head coach George Gwozdecky said. “We also had great play tonight from Bozak’s line. We needed both him and Rakhshani to shine, and they did.”

Matt Glasser (Calgary, Alberta) gave the Pioneers a boost heading into the first intermission when he beat Minnesota netminder Alex Kangas (24 saves) with 17.1 seconds remaining in the opening period. After Dustin Jackson (Omaha, Neb.) won a battle along the boards, Glasser scooped up the puck and fired a low shot from the right circle that slipped through Kangas’ legs.

The Pioneers added a pair of goals in the second period to stretch their lead to 3-0.

Bozak made it a two-goal game at 10:26 when he blasted a feed from Rakhshani past Kangas’ stick side, while Rakhshani notched a goal of his own at 12:34 when he redirected a Chris Butler (St. Louis, Mo.) shot from the point.

Minnesota’s David Fischer ended Mannino’s shutout bid with 3:56 remaining in the game on a low shot from the top of the right faceoff circle, but Brian Gifford (Moorhead, Minn.) added an empty-net goal at 18:24 to seal the game.

Minnesota outshot DU by a 31-28 margin. The Pioneers finished 1-for-3 on the power play while holding the Gophers scoreless in five opportunities with a man-advantage.

Notes: The Pioneers are fifth in the latest PairWise Rankings...Bozak has recorded a goal in each of the last three games and has four tallies in DU’s last five contests overall...Rakhshani has six points (3g/3a) in his last five games...DU remained unbeaten at 17-0-1 when limiting opponents to two goals or less...The Pioneers are 32-for-34 (94.1%) on the penalty kill in their last seven games.