DENVER – The No. 3 Denver Pioneers hockey team scored five unanswered goals and defeated the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs 6-2 on Friday night at Magness Arena.
 
Denver (24-7-0, 15-4-0 NCHC) has now won five games in a row and stretched its season-best home winning streak to seven straight.
 
The teams wrap up their weekend set on Saturday at 6 p.m. MT, as the Pioneers also aim to sweep the four-game season series. The contest will be broadcasted on Altitude 2 and NCHC.tv.
 
Jack Devine recorded his first career two-goal contest and tied a personal best with three points (2g/1a). The sophomore forward tallied the go-ahead marker at 12:42 of the second period and then scored again at 12:52 of the third to stretch the Pioneers' lead to 4-2.
 
"He was really good," said Richard and Kitzia Goodman hockey head coach David Carle of Devine. "I thought he was on his toes. His 5-on-5 play was good, he got some PK time, so I thought he was excellent. Certainly, could have even had more. He had a couple of other really good looks, so it was great to see him do that tonight."
 
Freshman Aidan Thompson matched a career best as well with three points (1g/2a) and stretched his point streak to a career-long five games (3g/4a). Carter Mazur also had a multi-point performance with a pair of assists, while Mike Benning, Jared Wright and McKade Webster also tallied.
 
Minnesota Duluth (12-16-1, 7-12-0 NCHC) led 2-1 early in the second period off a short-handed marker from Jesse Jacques in the first stanza and a rebound tally from Luke Loheit at 4:30 of the middle frame, but DU evened the score as Mike Benning tallied on a 5-on-3 power play at 10:09 of the period. Devine scored his first of two markers 2:33 later and DU had a lead it didn't relinquish the rest of the game.
 
Denver finished 2-for-4 on the power play, as Thompson also tallied with the extra man to even the score at 1-1 with 3:47 left in the first period. The Pioneers killed off all four penalties and have now extinguished 14 consecutive man-disadvantage chances, a season-best streak.
 
Goaltender Magnus Chrona made 31-of-33 saves in earning his 20th win of the season for the Pios. Jack Caruso played the final 2:30 of the outing and stopped the only shot he faced.
 
Dating back to last season, DU has now won four in a row against UMD—its longest stretch versus the Bulldogs since winning seven straight from April 8, 2017-Nov. 16, 2018.
 

POSTGAME NOTES

• Denver secures the season series win vs. UMD. The last time that the squad swept the season with Minnesota Duluth was in 2017-18 (5-0-0).
• Jack Devine's only other three-point game was Jan. 7 of this season vs. Alaska Fairbanks (1g/2a), while Aidan Thompson only three-point performance was Jan. 14, 2023 vs. Miami (0g/3a0
• Massimo Rizzo recorded his 50th career assist.
• Shai Buium is on a four-game point streak (1g/3a), matching a career long he set earlier this year (Jan. 7-20).
• Tristan Broz (1g/3a) and Massimo Rizzo (2g/4a) are both on four-game point streaks.
• Magnus Chrona recorded 20 wins for the second-straight season and second time in his collegiate career.

GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
14:44 UMD (0-1) – SHG, Jesse Jacques was sprung free for a short-handed breakaway and placed the puck around the left pad of Magnus Chrona and into the net.
16:13 DU (1-1) – PPG, Aidan Thompson tallied on a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Shai Buium during a 5-on-3 power play.
 
2nd Period
4:30 UMD (1-2) – Luke Loheit scored on a rebound after Dominic James' shot rang off the crossbar.
10:09 DU (2-2) – PPG, Mike Benning tallied on a snap-shot from the high slot off a feed from Carter Mazur.
12:42 DU (3-2) – After Magnus Chrona made a point-blank save at the other end of the ice, Carter Mazur caromed the puck up the wall and into the neutral zone for Jack Devine, who scored with a wrister on a breakaway.
 
3rd Period
12:52 DU (4-2) – Massimo Rizzo fed Jack Devine with a backhand pass, and Devine tallied from the left side.
16:04 DU (5-2) – Coming out of the penalty box, Jared Wright gathered a loose puck in the neutral zone and scored five-hole on a breakaway.
17:30 DU (6-2) – ENG, McKade Webster fought for the puck and netted it into an open net.
 
QUOTABLES
Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach David Carle
On Jared Wright: "Well, speed kills. He is really fast and makes people really uncomfortable out there with his speed, and I think his stick you are seeing is getting better. Early in the year, I thought he was getting to spots, but he wasn't able to break up as many plays, and now we're seeing him break plays up with his stick details. It is a great growth for him because that's going to allow his speed to be extenuated more. He's got a sneaky ability to score too. We've seen that goal a few times this year where he slides it five-hole. He's been scoring in different ways at practice on those same types of plays. I think he's up to eight or nine on the year; having an excellent freshman year, making a good impact for us."
 
On the penalty kill improvement: "Faceoffs have continued to get better, which is leading to easier clears. It's no fun when you lose a draw, and you have to start on the kill in your own zone right away. I think there's maybe a little bit more confidence with our in-zone play. Magnus (Chrona) obviously making big saves, and we're getting big clears when we have the opportunity."
 
Sophomore Forward Jack Devine
On scoring two goals: "It's working with your teammates and building that chemistry. Me and (Massimo) Rizzo haven't played a lot, so over the past couple of weeks we've gotten to know each other's games. He made a really nice pass there and I was able to find a sweet spot." 
 
On the connection with his linemates: "They're really good players with really good skill. It's one of those things where when they have the puck, I just try to get open for them because I know they can find me. There are times when I can forecheck them. It's just continuing to build the chemistry."
 
On going for the season sweep on Saturday: "I think last year they beat us in the Frozen Faceoff in Minnesota, and the playoffs were definitely a big one… Obviously, they're a good team, so it will not be an easy thing, but we've got to stay focused for tomorrow night."
 
On his learning experience as a player: "You've got to find your role on the team; you have to stick to who you are as a player. I think for me, when I move my feet and get on the forecheck, it's a part of my game. From last year, just experiencing playing up and down the lineup, I'm pretty versatile. Whatever role the coaches give me I try to execute them."
 
Junior Defenseman Mike Benning
On the team's improvement with the penalty kill: "We started reading off of each other, it makes it a lot easier. Magnus (Chrona) is playing great; he has been our best penalty killer. Hopefully he keeps it up."
  
On team connection throughout game: "We adapted to Duluth and kind of get a sense of what is happening. I thought we did a great job of adapting and adjusting our style of play. Obviously, the score says it as the periods went on."
 
On finally burying the puck in the game: "I think I was buzzing in the first. I need to hit the net, first off.  You know, Maze (Carter Mazur) gave me one right in the slot and I had a whole bunch of net to shoot at. It was just me picking a spot."
 
 
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