DENVER – The No. 1 Denver Pioneers hockey team scored a season-high seven goals and defeated the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks 7-2 on Saturday night at Magness Arena to wrap up the weekend set.
 
Denver (17-5-0, 8-2-0 NCHC) splits the two-game, non-conference series with Alaska (11-9-2) after falling 3-1 on Friday. The team now heads into National Collegiate Hockey Conference play for its final 14 contests of the regular season.
 
"I liked the competitiveness that we had tonight," and Richard and Kitzia Goodman hockey head coach David Carle. "We still got outshot in the game, and they're a really hard team to generate a lot of shots against. There's a reason they're in the top five in team defense in the country, and we were opportunistic on our chances and that's what we needed to do. We exposed some of their over-aggressiveness, we made some plays, and we were able to put the puck in the back of the net and take advantage of some of those mistakes they made."
 
The Pioneers' seven goals were their most since tallying eight on Feb. 4, 2022 versus St. Cloud State (8-5 win). DU's previous high this season for tallies was six, accomplished on Nov. 12 at North Dakota (W, 6-3) and Nov. 26 against Omaha (W, 6-3).
 
Junior McKade Webster and sophomores Carter King, Carter Mazur and Massimo Rizzo each contributed a goal and an assist for the Pioneers, while defensemen Sean Behrens and Mike Benning each had a pair of helpers. Senior captain Justin Lee, sophomore Jack Devine and freshman Jared Wright also found the back of the net.
 
It took just 2:39 into the game for Denver to take the lead with Lee's third goal of the season, and the Pios tacked on two more markers to hold a 3-1 advantage at the first intermission.
 
After no goals in the second frame, DU exploded for four markers in the third period, with Wright, Mazur and King all finding the back of the net in a matter of 4:54. The four goals were the most in a period by the Pioneers this season.
 
Goaltender Magnus Chrona played in his 100th career game (99th start) and made 27 saves for his 64th career victory, surpassing Peter Mannino for sole possession of fourth place all-time in program history.
 
Junior Jack Caruso finished the contest in net for the Pios, making his season debut and stopping one shot in 4:08 of work. It was his second career game and first since playing 3:05 on Jan. 2, 2020 against Colorado College as a freshman.
 
Payton Matsui tallied both goals for Fairbanks, which received 17 saves from netminder Matt Radmomsky.
 
Denver finished 2-for-8 on the power play and killed off all five penalties.
 
UP NEXT: Denver wraps up its season-long, six-game homestand next weekend as it hosts Miami (Ohio) on Friday and Saturday at Magness Arena in a return to NCHC play.
 
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• The Pioneers are now 10-3-2 all-time vs. Alaska Fairbanks and sport a 5-1-2 record on home ice.
• Magnus Chrona played in his 100th career game (99th career start). The victory was Chrona's 64th of his career, surpassing Peter Mannino for sole possession of fourth place all-time in program history.
• The Pioneers finish non-conference play this season with a 9-3-0 record and a 9-1-0 mark in such games on home ice.
• Denver has scored at least one power-play goal in each of the last six games, a season-long streak. DU scored multiple power-play goals in a game for the sixth time this season.
• Sean Behrens played in his first game since winning a bronze medal with the United States at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship on Thursday.
• Massimo Rizzo scored for the second consecutive game and extended his career-long point streak to nine games (6g/5a).
• Mike Benning pushed his career-long point streak (5g/10a) to nine contests as well after producing two helpers.
• Goaltender Jack Caruso made his season debut in goal in the third period.

GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
2:39 DU (1-0) – Justin Lee gathered his own rebound on a rush up the ice and buried a shot into the net before colliding with the UAF goaltender.
5:01 UAF (1-1) – Payton Matsui knocked in the puck in front after a centering feed from Chase Dubois.
6:04 DU (2-1) – Massimo Rizzo cleaned up the puck in the crease after it rebounded free from a shot by Carter Mazur
12:37 DU (3-1) – PPG, Jack Devine took a perfect cross-ice pass from Carter King and scored from the left circle.
 
2nd Period
No Scoring
 
3rd Period
4:56 DU (4-1) – PPG, McKade Webster scored on a rebound from Massimo Rizzo's shot at the left point.
9:53 UAF (4-2) – Payton Matsui scored short-side from a tough angle.
12:05 DU (5-2) – Jared Wright and Tristan Broz traded passes during a 2-on-1 before Wright buried a shot into an open net from the right side.
14:44 Du (6-2) – ENG, Carter Mazur scored into an open cage with a backhand shot from the left point.
16:59 DU (7-2) – Carter King whacked in the puck from the left side after Sean Behrens' shot caromed off the end wall.
 
 
QUOTABLES
Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach David Carle
On how tough it was to play Alaska: "I really like the way they play. A lot of credit to their staff and respect for how they play. They made life hard on us all weekend long. It's unfortunate obviously to not get the result last night, but a really good lesson for us and I think we got better. The team grew over the weekend because of having to play against a team like that."
 
On what changed from Friday: "We were more into them then we were last night. We were moving our feet more. I thought we changed better, which allowed us to stay fresher. Last night they out-changed us 2-to-1 all night long. They were constantly getting fresh legs out, and we did not look good in those moments. Obviously, tonight we were able to change better and keep up with their work.
 
Sophomore Defenseman Sean Behrens
On being back at Denver: "It was awesome. I was excited to get back. Unfortunately I couldn't play last night, but played tonight, had a good effort from the team and being back with them, it was awesome. I missed it a lot, and it's great to be back."
 
On the team's effort on Saturday: "Last night wasn't great. Tonight, we did a better job. I think in the locker room guys stepped up. Last night wasn't Denver hockey, it wasn't our game, and I thought tonight was really good. It was a great effort to come out there and outwork a really hard working team."
 
 
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