DENVER – The No. 3 University of Denver hockey team lost its first home game of the season on Saturday night as the Pioneers fell 3-2 to the No. 6 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at Magness Arena.
 
Denver (21-6-1, 14-4-0 NCHC) began the season 14-0-1 in its friendly confines, the third longest unbeaten streak to begin a campaign at home in program history. The Pios were also on a nine-game winning streak and an 11-game unbeaten streak (10-0-1), both season highs, before falling to the Bulldogs (14-11-3, 7-6-3 NCHC).
 
Blake Biondi scored the go-ahead goal for UMD with 4:44 remaining, as he knocked in the puck near the slot eight seconds after a Bulldogs power play expired. Minnesota Duluth goaltender Zach Stejskal played the final 40 minutes of the game after starter Ryan Fanti got injured, and he made 18 saves on 20 shots. It was the first time that Stejskal's had played since being diagnosed with testicular cancer.
 
"It was a tight hockey game; we were good in moments and carried the play. They responded well and made life hard on us at times," Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach David Carle said. "Power-play execution is certainly something that your eye is drawn toward. Not only not did [the power play] not score, but I don't think it generated much momentum for us either. On the penalty kill, it was nice to only have one for the first two periods, but failed clears lead to the demise."
 
Defensemen Justin Lee and Shai Buium scored for the Pioneers, and goaltender Magnus Chrona finished with 21 saves. Junior Bobby Brink had an assist to extend his career-long point/assist streak to 12 games (4g/19a), the longest by a Pioneer since Danton Heinen had an 18-game run from Jan. 22-March 27, 2017 (14g/20a).
 
It took just 31 seconds for the Bulldogs to gain an early lead, as Kobe Roth finished a 2-on-1 rush with Koby Bender for the fastest goal to start a game against Denver this season. Still, the Pioneers had a strong opening frame as they held a 13-8 advantage in shots and had a prime opportunity to score after Carter Mazur was awarded a penalty shot.
 
Mazur was hooked from behind during a short-handed breakaway with 6:31 remaining in the first period, but his ensuing wrister on the penalty-shot attempt was stopped by Fanti, who made all 13 saves in the opening frame.
 
Lee tied the game for Denver with an outside shot at 12:21 of the second period, and Shai Buium gave DU the 2-1 lead with a tally off a faceoff win by Brett Stapley 4:27 into the third stanza. However, Roth recorded his second marker of the night during a man advantage at 7:46 and Gotz tallied the go-ahead goal seven and a half minutes later.
 
The Pioneers made a strong push in the final minutes with Chrona on the bench for the extra attacker but didn't find the equalizer. DU went 0-for-5 on the power play and outshot Duluth 35-24 overall in the contest.
 
Denver's last loss also came against UMD, falling 6-2 on Dec. 11 in Minnesota.
 
Saturday marked the final contest of a four-game homestand for the Pioneers, as DU will now head out for a season-long five game road trip that begins next weekend at No. 5 Western Michigan. Denver will then play at Omaha on Feb. 25-26 and at Colorado College on March 4 before closing the regular season on senior night on March 5.
 
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Denver is now 128-87-13 all-time and 78-39-5 at home against Minnesota Duluth.
• Kyle Mayhew played in his 100th collegiate game skated Carter Savoie in his 50th contest.
• Magnus Chrona played his 1,500th minute in goal this season.
• Bobby Brink has now recorded an assist in 12 consecutive games (19a) and has picked up an assist in 19-of-20 games (28a).
• Brett Stapley recorded an assist in the third period for his 90th career point.
• The Pioneers have allowed 25 or fewer shots in eight straight games, and they have kept opponents to 25 or fewer in 20 of the 28 contest this season.
• The Pios are now 8-6-0 against ranked opponents this season and are 5-1-0 against top-10 teams at Magness Arena.
• Denver wore its 70th Anniversary throwback jerseys for the first time this season.

 
GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
0:31 UMD (0-1) – Kobe Roth scored on a 2-on-1 after receiving a pass from Koby Bender.
6:29 DU (0-1) – PS, Carter Mazur was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked on a breakaway, but his wrist shot was stopped on the ensuing attempt.
 
2nd Period
12:21 DU (1-1) – Justin Lee found the back of the net with a wrist shot from the left point.
 
3rd Period
4:27 DU (2-1) – Off a faceoff win by Brett Stapley, Shai Buium unleashed a wrister from the high slot that went top shelf.
7:46 UMD (2-2) – PPG, Kobe Roth tied the game after hitting the puck in mid-air while in front of the crease.
15:16 UMD (2-3) – Seconds after their power play ended, Darian Gotz knocked in the puck down low.
 
 
TICKETS: Single-game tickets for the 2021-22 campaign are on sale and can be purchased here.
 
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Masks are required at all indoor athletic events. For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.

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