No. 5 Denver overcome a rough start tie No. 7 North Dakota, 3-3, on Friday night at Grand Forks, N.D.

The Pioneers earned an extra point for NCHC standings purposes when Troy Terry scored with 48 seconds left in the second (three-on-three) overtime, walking off the left boards with the puck and snapping a shot from the circle to the short side of North Dakota goaltender Cam Johnson.

Terry had given the Pioneers (14-6-5, 8-4-3-1 NCHC) a 3-2 lead 5:56 into the third period on a 5-minute power play after North Dakota’s Cole Smith was penalized and ejected for high sticking Adam Plant in the head at the 3:14 mark. Plant had to be helped from the ice and did not return.

Terry spun and fired a shot from between the circles for the go-ahead goal.

North Dakota (12-8-7, 6-6-2-3 NCHC) forced overtime when Hayden Shaw‘s shot hit a DU defender’s stick and eluded Tanner Jaillet (18 saves) with 1:32 to play and Johnson pulled for an extra attacker.

The Pioneers found themselves in a 2-0 hole just 5:18 into the game when Smith’s centering pass bounced off Tariq Hammond into the DU net 1:02 in before Shane Gersich struck on a power play. Jaillet’s subsequent play kept it from being a 3-0 or 4-0 lead before the first 20 minutes were in the books.

“It was a game that really tested us as far as being down,” DU coach Jim Montgomery said on 104.3 FM after the game. “We didn’t have our A game tonight for whatever reason. But we found a way to get back in the game. …

“We got the extra point, which may mean something down the stretch.”

Dylan Gambrell started DU’s rally by one timing a circle-to-circle pass from Henrik Borgstrom 7:04 into the second that Johnson (17 saves) had no chance on.

“Gambrell’s goal was a hell of a shot,” Montgomery said. “The first 40 minutes they played with more desperation. When we got the Gambrell goal, they started retreating a bit.”

The Pioneers tied 2:07 into the third when senior Rudy Junda redirected Hammond’s point shot.

“Tomorrow we’ve got to respond with a much better performance from start to finish,” Montgomery said.

Here we go again

The worst news to come out of the game was Plant sustaining what appeared to be a head injury for the second time this season, and the second time this season at the hands of Smith.

During the teams’ Nov. 18 meeting at Magness Arena, Smith also was assessed a 5-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct for a hit on Plant late in the first period. DU scored a power-play goal on that penalty and added the next three goals for a 4-1 victory.

Plant had missed the previous night’s game and then missed seven of the Pioneers’ next eight games.

His return to the lineup at Miami earlier coincided with Denver seemingly hitting its stride in NCHC play.

It will be interesting to see if Smith receives any supplementary discipline from the league.

Denver’s three stars

1. Troy Terry. The American Hero donned his Captain Clutch costume Friday, giving DU a third-period lead and an extra NCHC point.
2. Blake Hillman. The defenseman was all over the place, generating four shots, blocking shots and finishing in plus territory.
3. Dylan Gambrell. His goal energized DU and he got the puck to Terry on the go-ahead tally.

Up next

The teams play Saturday at 6:07 p.m. MST. 104.3 FM will carry the broadcast. NCHC.tv (subscription) has the telecast.