St. Cloud, Minn. – The No. 2 St. Cloud State Huskies (8-1-0, 3-0-0-0) scored three goals in the second period to hand the No. 5 Denver Pioneers (5-1-1, 2-1-0-0) their first loss of the season, defeating the Pioneers, 4-3, in the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on Friday.

Five power plays through the first two periods were enough fuel for the Huskies who scored the game-winning goal at 17:50 of the second period and retained their lead through the final 20 minutes. St. Cloud State outshot Denver, 39-24.

"In the second period we gave up too much free offense and you can't do that against a team like St. Cloud State," Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach David Carle said. "Ultimately, the better team won tonight."

After a back-and-forth start to the top-ranked matchup, the Pioneers struck first at 9:21 of the opening period. Jarid Lukosevicius started the play, making a pass to Cole Guttman through center ice before Guttman used the defenseman as a screen for his third goal of the season. The Huskies responded one minute later as Ryan Poehling found Nolan Walker streaking toward the net for a deflection over the glove of Devin Cooley. Denver regained the lead at 17:01 of the period when Brett Stapley blocked a St. Cloud State pass at the blue line and converted on the ensuing breakaway.

The Pioneers extended their lead early in the second period with Emilio Pettersen's power-play goal from Brett Stapley and Ian Mitchell, though the Huskies responded quickly for the second time in the game. Less than one minute after Pettersen made it 3-1, Walker scored on a shot from the blue line. Trailing 3-2, St. Cloud State used a pair of power plays to steal the lead for the first time in the game. Patrick Newell tied it for the Huskies at 9:07 of the frame immediately following the expiration of Ryan Barrow's penalty, then Jimmy Schuldt made it 4-3 for St. Cloud State with only 2:10 left in the period.

Denver was unable to convert on an abbreviated five-on-three power play to start the third period, then was stifled on a pair of chances with the empty net in the waning minutes of regulation.

Mitchell and Lukosevicus extended their point streaks to seven games and five games, respectively. The Pioneers finished 1/3 on the power play and 4/5 on the penalty kill. Cooley made 35 saves.

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