TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 3 Denver Pioneers hockey team rallied from a two-goal deficit on Saturday night but ultimately lost 3-2 in overtime to the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mullet Arena.
 
The extra-time defeat ends DU's season-long, six-game winning streak, but the team has yet to lose in regulation in each of its last eight contests (6-2-0) dating back to Oct. 31 against Alaska Anchorage.
 
"There's a lot to like in the game," said Denver Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach David Carle. "We weren't deterred in the second and the third. Continued to push, loved the push we made in the second—shots 20-6 in the period—and again our discipline was pretty good; we only take the two penalties, both occurred in the first period. When you're chasing a game, you can't make a run to the box, and we didn't do that tonight after those first two penalties."
 
Denver (9-4-1, 5-1-0 NCHC) now returns home where the program gets set to host the Minnesota Gophers in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at Ball Arena next Saturday at 7 p.m. MT. Tickets are still available.
 
Junior forward Sam Harris scored both goals for the Pioneers to force overtime after Arizona State (5-8-1, 3-4-1 NCHC) tallied the first two of the evening in the first period. Harris scored from a tough angle with 5:11 left in the second period and then buried his own rebound at 13:33 of the third after taking advantage of a Sun Devil player falling to the ice. The San Diego, California, native had a hat trick in the series finale last year in Arizona.
 
Harris also found the back of the cage for a third time early in the second period, but the goal was eventually disallowed after ASU won a coach's challenge for offside.
 
Of the six all-time games that DU and ASU have played at Mullet Arena, four of them have been decided in overtime. The other two instances were blowout victories by the Pioneers, who won 7-1 on Friday night in the opener of the weekend set.
 
Senior forward Samu Salminen and junior defenseman Garrett Brown had assists on Harris' first tally, and the left wing's second marker came unassisted. DU goaltender Quentin Miller made 24 saves on 27 shots faced, including 14 in the second and third periods and two in overtime.
 
Cullen Potter netted the OT-winning goal with 22.3 seconds remaining in the extra frame and came less than 20 seconds after junior defenseman Eric Pohlkamp hit the post on a shot during the Pioneers' rush up the ice the other way.
 
Prior to Potter's game-winner, the only other pucks to get past Miller was from Carmelo Crandell at 6:35 of the first period after Denver netminder misplayed the puck behind his own net and Jack Beck on the power play with 2:50 remaining in the initial stanza.
 
The Pioneers outshot the Sun Devils 44-27 overall, with ASU goalie Connor Hasley making 42 saves.
 
Despite the loss, Denver still earned a point in the conference standings and presently leads in the NCHC with 15 points after its initial six league games.
 
UP NEXT: Denver begins a three-game homestay, its longest so far this season, when it hosts former WCHA-foe Minnesota on Saturday at Ball Arena in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game. The Pioneers return to Magness Arena on Dec. 5-6 when they host Miami.
 
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Denver is now 12-6-1 all-time against Arizona State and own a 5-4-1 record in Arizona, which includes a 3-3-0 mark at Mullett Arena.
• The Pioneers and Sun Devils have played four overtime games at Mullet Arena in six all-time matchups in the rink, with ASU owning a 1-3-0 mark in those contests.
• Denver dropped to 1-2-1 in overtime this season.
• DU had its season-long six-game winning streak and four-game road winning streak come to an end.
• Sam Harris stretched his season-long point streak to five games (3g/3a).
• Denver was finishing up a three-game road swing (2-1-0) and a stretch where it had played five of its last six on the road and 10 of its first 14 of the season away from home ice. 

 
GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
6:34 ASU (0-1) – Carmelo Crandell tallied into an open net after DU's goalie misplayed the puck behind the cage.
17:10 ASU (0-2) – PPG, Jack Beck scored off a quick pass through the low slot by Kyle Smolen.
 
2nd Period
14:49 DU (1-2) – Sam Harris took passes from Samu Salminen and Garrett Brown and netted a goal with a wrist shot from a tough angle at the left circle.
 
3rd Period
12:33 DU (2-2) – Sam Harris took corralled a loose puck after an ASU player fell down at his own blue line and scored on his own rebound after his initial shot was denied.
 
Overtime
4:37 ASU (2-3) – Cullen Potter scored on a shot from the left side.
 
 
QUOTABLES
Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach David Carle
On Sam Harris play throughout the game: "He was great tonight. Really couldn't put him on the ice enough. That line, for as good as they were last night, dangerous again tonight. Tried to ride them and ride him certainly in the overtime. We had some looks in overtime. Samu (Salminen) and Jay (Reeder) get the opportunity on the 2-on-1, and some really good looks throughout the night. Give their guy, [Connor] Hasley some credit; he really responded and played, and certainly that's what they're looking for out of their team."
 
On playing at Ball Arena next against Minnesota: "We're looking forward to playing a game at Ball Arena. I would encourage people to buy tickets and make it a wonderful experience for our student-athletes. It will be a great way to spend the holiday (of Thanksgiving), cheering on your Pioneers. This team is a young team but continues to grow. I really like what we're becoming, real competitive. Even in the games we've lost, we haven't lost more than one yet, we have two overtime losses. Looking forward to taking on the Gophers—they had a big win last night against Penn State."
 

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