Duluth, Minn. – The No. 4 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (18-7-2, 11-5-1-0) surged past the No. 7 Denver Pioneers (15-7-4, 7-7-2-2) 5-2 on Friday at AMSOIL Arena.

After scoring the first goal of the night less than three minutes into the game, the Pioneers ceded four-straight goals in the loss.

"I thought we had a really nice first period. We executed our game plan. We played with energy and we played with emotion," Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach David Carle said. "They got faster as the game went on. Their transition to offense was very good and it made us pay."

The Pioneers started the scoring at 2:50 of the opening period as Jaakko Heikkinen collected a rolling puck behind the net and set up a one-timer for Les Lancaster. Denver's 1-0 lead held for only 1:11 before the Bulldogs responded off the rush with Justin Richards burying a rebound from Parker Mackay's shot to make it 1-1 before the first intermission.

Nick Swaney and Noah Cates connected to establish separation for the Bulldogs at 10:20 of the second period as Cates chased Swaney's rebound behind the net before finding his teammate at the netfront for the go-ahead goal.

Minnesota Duluth put the game out of reach in the third period with a pair of goals in 1:06. After Justin Richards capitalized on a stretch pass for his second goal of the night, Jackson Cates and Tanner Laderoute combined to make it 4-1 at 10:46 of the frame. Ryan Barrow's goal at 16:14 closed the margin to two goals, but Denver was unable to convert with the extra attacker. Cole Koepke's empty netter at 19:14 sealed the game to mark Minnesota Duluth's second win against Denver in the last nine meetings.

The Pioneers finished 0/2 on the power play and 3/3 on the penalty kill. Filip Larsson made 24 saves.

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