Talk about a happy return.

A Denver team that has struggled in road NCHC games this season got a much needed boost from the comeback of goaltender Devin Cooley.

Playing for the first time in nine games since sustaining an injury at Wisconsin on Jan. 4, the sophomore made 27 saves – several of the dynamic variety – to spark the No. 7 Pioneers to a 1-0 victory over No. 4 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday night at Duluth.

The victory, combined with North Dakota’s loss at Western Michigan, vaulted the Pioneers back into fourth place in the NCHC standings. With 28 points, DU (16-7-4, 8-7-2-2 NCHC) is just four behind third-place Western Michigan and has a game in hand.

Surviving a pressure cooker

Cooley was especially sharp in the third period, when the Bulldogs fired 13 shots on goal and brought pressure on seemingly every shift. The shutout was his third of the season and it dropped his goals-against average to 1.93 (eighth in Division ) and raised his save percentage to .934 (third).

“I’m really proud of our guys’ effort and their resilience to be able to stick together and gut out a tough road win,” coach David Carle said. “It hasn’t been easy as of late. We’ve been in a lot of wars and a lot of low scoring games. We haven’t had success on the road and to be able to come into this building is a feather in our cap.”

Denver managed just 17 shots, only seven after the first period.

But it was their second one of the night that made the difference.

Freshman Slava Demin continued his strong play of late with his fourth goal of the season, taking a feed at the point from Emilio Pettersen and firing it through traffic. It was the only shot that eluded Hunter Shepard, who was strong for the second night in a row and ended the weekend allowing just three goals in two games.

Denver’s three stars

1. Devin Cooley. The sophomore returned to the lineup with a 27-save shutout.
2. Slava Demin. The freshman scored the game’s only goal.
3. Ian Mitchell. The sophomore was one of many defensemen who had a strong game.

Up next

The Pioneers play host to Miami in an NCHC series Friday and Saturday at Magness Arena. The Red Hawks were off this weekend.

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