All a team can ask for is to control its own fate, and by completing a sweep of Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday with a 2-1 victory, DU can do just that.

Firmly entrenched in third place in the NCHC (26 points), the Pioneers (12-7-5) strengthened their position in both the conference and nationally by extending their 2016 unbeaten streak to eight game (5-0-3). It is DU’s longest since a 10-game winning streak from Jan. 29 to Feb. 27 in 2010.

“We did what we had to do to put ourselves back in the national picture,” coach Jim Montgomery said.

The Pioneers got a power-play goal from Danton Heinen (his team-high ninth) halfway through the first period, and then he worked a two-on-one with Dylan Gambrell with 2:20 go to in the first to give DU a 2-0 lead. UMD scored with 7:07 to go on a rebound, the only tally they got on Evan Cowley all weekend.

Cowley had a scoreless streak of 106:40 and made 73 saves between his relief appearance Friday and Saturday’s start.

“He was spectacular,” Montgomery said. “That was the best I’ve seen him play. I hope he can build on it this year.”

Cowley, who made 34 saves Saturday, was in position to make saves, particularly with his glove all night.

“I liked the way he covered the bottom of the net,” Montgomery said. “He played better tonight than he did (Friday) night.”

Extracurriculars: The Bulldogs again outshot the Pioneers, and again had nothing to show for it. It’s been that type of season for a team that started the campaign ranked second in the nation and now is in danger of falling out of the top 20 with its 8-10-5 record. Their frustration was obvious from the start, and their extra shoves, elbows and stick work rarely went called.

“Minnesota-Duluth has outplayed a lot of opponents and now is two games under .500,” Montgomery said. “You can sense their frustration.”

Only rarely did the Pioneers allow themselves to get dragged into the mire.

“I liked the way we did stand up. A game like this brings you together,” Montgomery said. “I liked the way we kept calm but also pushed back.”

In the circle: Lost in the details of Friday night’s 3-2 victory over Minnesota-Duluth was DU’s prowess in the face-off circle. The Pioneers won 60 percent of the draws (42-28), with senior Quentin Shore (18-5) leading the way.

Senior Gabe Levin (7-4) and freshman Gambrell (7-5) also were on the positive side of the ledger. Gambrell is taking more face-offs as the season progresses. Heinen frequently took draws for the top line in the first portion of the season.

Entering Saturday’s game Shore (54.5 percent), Levin (54.3) and Matt Marcinew (51.5) were above the plus line on draws for the season. They kept it going in the first period Saturday, winning 12 of 20 (60 percent again). Overall they won 34 of 61 (55.7).

For a puck possession team, starting with the puck is a huge advantage.

Switcheroo: The Pioneers made one lineup change among skaters, subbing freshman Jarid Lukosevicius in for junior Emil Romig on a line with Gabe Levin and Colin Staub. Lukosevicius, who had a two-goal game against the Bulldogs on Nov. 13, had not played since Jan. 8 at Omaha.

The last word: “(UMD) played desperate, we played well,” Montgomery said.