Fairbanks, Alaska – Defense led the way for the No. 2 Denver Pioneers men's hockey team (2-0-0, 0-0-0-0) as two goals from defensemen, a perfect penalty kill and a 28-save shutout from freshman goalie
Magnus Chrona helped Denver defeat the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks (0-2-0, 0-0-0-0) 3-0 and complete the series sweep on Sunday at the Carlson Center.
Chrona's first-career shutout backstopped the Pioneers through a scoreless first 39 minutes and preserved the lead following Ian Michell's game-winning shorthanded goal at 19:05 of the second period.
I thought our attention to detail defensively was way better, starting with our forwards" Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach
David Carle said. "Our awareness defensively was better: our angling, our reloads and our gaps."
Scoring chances were limited through the early part of the night. The Nanooks put two chances off the post,
Hank Crone struck iron for the Pioneers with a shot off the rush late in the second, but it wasn't until the final minute of the middle frame that the Pioneers established separation. With 55 seconds to go in the period,
Jake Durflinger pushed a puck up the boards for
Liam Finlay, who fed a one-timer to Mitchell on the two-on-one shorthanded rush.
Griffin Mendel made it 2-0 at 6:07 of the third, picking off a puck at the blue line and stepping in to wire a wrist shot past the glove of Gustavs Grigals to double the Pioneers' lead.
Ryan Barrow's empty-netter at 19:31 iced the game and capped the shutout.
Denver's penalty kill finished 6/6 on the night and 10/10 on the weekend.
"We were really good," Carle said of the penalty kill. "Our down-ice pressure continued to be elite and disrupt their timing coming up ice. When they did get the puck into the zone, I thought you saw a goaltender who was much more comfortable. We were better on the faceoff circle tonight too, which I think helped."
UP NEXT:
Denver will travel to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for a non-conference series vs. Lake Superior State on Oct. 11-12. The Pioneers return to Magness Arena for their first home series of the season on Oct. 18-19 vs. Boston College.
2019-20 SEASON TICKETS:
Season tickets for the 2019-20 season are on sale now, and can be purchased here. Check out the complete 2019-20 schedule here.
SHOP PIONEERS:
Get dressed for Game Day! Get your Pioneers gear at ShopPioneers.com, the official online store of University of Denver Athletics.
OUR JOURNEY:
Fans interested in making a donation to the men's hockey program can do so by clicking here. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.
-OUR JOURNEY, OUR TIME-
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