PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The No. 8 University of Denver hockey team fell 6-5 to the No. 12 Providence College Friars on Friday night at Schneider Arena to begin a two-game road swing in the northeast.
 
Providence rallied by scoring five times in the third period, including erasing a three-goal deficit in the first 4:14 of the final frame that evened the score at 4-4. Brett Berard tallied the game-winner for the Friars (4-2-0) with 1:01 remaining in regulation during a rush up the ice.
 
Denver (4-1-0) wraps up its road trip on Saturday against the No. 10 Boston College Eagles at 5 p.m. MT.
 
Bobby Brink (two assists), Justin Lee (two assists), Massimo Rizzo (two assists) and Cameron Wright (one goal, one assist) all had multi-point performances for Denver, which lost its first game of the season.
 
Carter Savoie stretched his goal streak to three games and season-opening point streak to five as he tallied on the power play at 10:20 of the third period that gave the Pioneers a 5-4 advantage, but the lead was short-lived. Providence's Nick Poisson completed his hat trick 91 seconds later to knot the score once again.
 
After a scoreless first period, Denver led 4-1 heading into the second intermission on goals from Lee, Wright, Mike Benning and Cole Guttman. Lee and Guttman opened the scoring at 1:35 and 4:44 of the middle frame, respectively, as both took advantage of loose rebounds that popped out to them
 
Max Crozier responded for the Friars with a tally at 8:28 of the second, but Wright and Benning both found twine in a matter of 2:19 late in the frame to extend the Pios' lead to 4-1 at the time.
 
Denver outshot Providence 44-33, with goaltender Magnus Chrona making 27 saves. The Pioneers went 1-for-4 on the power play while the Friars scored on three of their four chances.
 

POSTGAME NOTES

• DU is now 7-10-3 all-time vs. Providence and 3-5-1 at Schneider Arena.
• Denver's four goals in the second period tied its season high (four in second period on Oct. 8 vs. Arizona State).
• Carter Savoie tallied for the third-straight contest and extended his point streak to five games Sean Behrens had an assist to push his season-opening point streak to five games as well. Cole Guttman and Shai Buium stretched their point streaks to three games.
• Junior defenseman and alternate captain Justin Lee returned to the lineup and played for the first time since opening night on Oct. 8 vs. Arizona State.
• Lee scored the game's opening goal and now has points (1g/3a) in both contests he's played this season.
• Cameron Wright now has back-to-back multi-point performances
• Denver has now recorded at least 40 shots in all five games this season
• Providence College was the first ranked opponent that Denver faced this season

GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
No Scoring
 
2nd Period
1:35 DU (1-0) – After Massimo Rizzo's shot in the slot was blocked, Justin Lee contained the rebound and scored far-side with a wrister from the left circle.
4:44 DU (2-0) – Antti Tuomisto's shot from the point was blocked in front, but the puck caromed off Bobby Brink in the slot and right to Cole Guttman, who buried the rebound.
8:28 PC (2-1) – PPG, Max Crozier tallied after receiving a cross-ice pass from Brett Berard.
13:54 DU (3-1) – A good forecheck by Carter Mazur forced the PC goalie to lose his stick, and the Pios were able to force and turnover that led to Cameron Wright's scoring from the left circle.
16:13 DU (4-1) – Mike Benning scored from the left point after taking passes from Justin Lee and Ryan Barrow.
 
3rd Period
0:33 PC (4-2) – PPG, Nick Poisson scored from the left side.
3:41 PC (4-3) – Nick Poisson tallied another to get the Friars within one on a wrister from the right side.
4:14 PC (4-4) – Jamie Engelbert tallies from the right circle on a rush up the ice.
10:20 DU (5-4) – PPG, Carter Savoie connected on a one-timer at the right circle off a pass from Sean Behrens.
11:51 PC (5-5) – Nick Poisson completed the hat trick with a slap shot after the puck deflected to him off a skate.
18:59 PC (5-6) – Brett Berard scored the go-ahead goal on a cross pass off a rush.
 

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