GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The No. 4 University of Denver hockey team lost 4-2 to the No. 5 North Dakota Fighting Hawks in the series finale on Saturday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
North Dakota (18-6-2, 9-4-1 NCHC) scored three power-play goals in the game, including tallying twice on the same man advantage during a major penalty in the third period that broke up a 2-2 tie.
Sophomore
Jared Wright and freshman
Sam Harris tallied for Denver (17-7-2, 8-5-1 NCHC). Sophomore
Rieger Lorenz and juniors
Shai Buium and
Jack Devine each recorded an assist, and goaltender
Matt Davis made 29 saves on 34 shots in the loss.
Owen McLaughlin and Riese Gaber both notched markers in a matter of 45 seconds during the extended power play to give UND its first lead of the night. NoDak was given the five-minute power play as DU's
Sean Behrens was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for direct contact to the head with 11:25 left in the third period.
The Pioneers killed off the first 3:25 of the infraction, but they ended up getting caught on a long shift and McLaughlin's outside shot got through traffic and into the back of the net for the game-winner.
DU and UND traded goals through the first two periods, as the outing was tied at 1-1 after the first frame and 2-2 at the end of the second stanza.
Denver led twice in those first 40 minutes, as Wright scored on a breakaway just 1:46 into the game and
Sam Harris buried a one-timer at 7:17 of the second. Cameron Berg and Jackson Kunz evened the scores each time for the Fighting Hawks.
McLaughlin finished with a three-point night by adding two assists to his go-ahead goal, while Jake Livanavage and Jackson Blake also recorded a pair of helpers.
North Dakota goaltender Ludvig Persson finished with 22 saves in the win.
UP NEXT: The Pioneers now head home to host the Western Michigan Broncos next Friday at 7 p.m. MT and Saturday at 6 p.m. MT at Magness Arena. Both games will be broadcasted on the networks of Altitude Sports and on NCHC.tv.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Junior Jack Devine played in his 100th career game, while senior Connor Caponi appeared in his 125th career contest.
- The Pioneers are now 5-3-0 vs. the Fighting Hawks in their last eight matchups.
- UND won the season series 3-1-0. Denver was swept in a weekend series for the first time since Jan. 20-21, 2023 at St. Cloud State.
- North Dakota finished with a 33-24 edge in shots on goal and a 29-22 advantage in faceoffs.
- DU allowed three power-play goals against for the third time this season.
- Denver had its first loss on a Saturday this season, dropping to 10-1-1 on the day in 2023-24.
- The Pioneers suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, as they were previously 5-0-0 after a loss.
GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
1:46 DU (1-0) –
Rieger Lorenz fed the puck up the ice to spring a rush for
Jared Wright, and Wright stuffed in his own rebound after beating a UND defender to the net.
13:20 UND (1-1) –
PPG, Cameron Berg's wrister found twine through a screen in front.
2nd Period
7:17 DU (2-1) –
Sam Harris buried a one-timer at the left circle off a feed from
Shai Buium below the goal line.
13:25 UND (2-2) – Jackson Knuz knocked in his own rebound after his initial breakaway attempt was stopped.
3rd Period
12:01 UND (2-3) –
PPG, Owen McLaughlin tallied on a wrist shot through traffic.
12:46 UND (2-4) –
PPG, Riese Gaber scored on a wrister at the top of the right circle.
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