DENVER – Filip Larsson recorded his first career shutout and Jarid Lukosevicius scored the game-winning goal as the No. 3 Denver Pioneers (13-4-2, 5-4-0-0) defeated the Omaha Mavericks (6-11-2, 2-6-1-0) 1-0 for their sixth-consecutive victory on Friday in Magness Arena.
 
Larsson's 21 saves and Lukosevicius' 18^th career game-winning goal at 18:48 of the second period proved to be all the Pioneers needed in their first home game in 47 days. Denver is on a 13-game winning streak against the Mavericks and have shutout their NCHC foe in four-straight games dating back to Jan. 28, 2017.
 
"We need to be better with our rush defense and our reloads tomorrow night, but overall you don't script them up the same every time and I'm happy with the effort," Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach David Carle said. "I think our forward group grew more patient, hanging on to pucks and cutting back, and that's when our defense could get open and be active. That leads to more possession, more shots and more chances for us."
 
The teams skated to a scoreless first period despite scoring chances on both ends of the ice. Denver's best opportunity came late in the period on the power play as Cole Guttman nearly connected with Emilio Pettersen on a back-door pass, while Omaha's best chance came on the same penalty with a shorthanded breakaway after Ian Mitchell's stick broke on a shot from the point.
 
The second period held a similar theme to the first until the Pioneers broke through at 18:48 of the frame. After darting down the left-wing boards, Pettersen slipped a pass into the slot for a trailing Lukosevicius who put a shot past the blocker of Evan Weninger to give Denver a 1-0 lead at the second intermission.
 
Omaha pushed to close the gap before the end of regulation, nearly tying the game on Tristan Keck's breakway with 4:32 remaining and a flurry of opportunities on a power play at 17:15 of the third. The chances closed the shot margin to 34-21 in the Pioneers' favor, but weren't enough to erase the deficit.
 
Denver finished 0/3 on the power play and 4/4 on the penalty kill.
 
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