No. 7 Denver found the perfect antidote for its recent goal-scoring malaise … Jack Doremus.

The sophomore forward scored two goals in a 17-second span of the third period – only the second and third goals of his DU career – and senior Jarid Lukosevicius also scored two goals, including a milestone one, in a 5-2 Pioneers victory against Miami on Saturday night at Magness Arena.

The Pioneers (17-8-4, 9-8-2-2 NCHC) had been held to one goal in five of their past seven games and a total of nine goals in that stretch.

Just as they did Friday, when the fired 46 shots at Miami’s Ryan Larkin, the Pioneers again generated plenty of shots Saturday (43). The difference was they found ways to bury them.

“It was a good response from our group,” DU coach David Carle said. “We stuck with our game plan. Their commitment to defense and blocking shots was good. I’m proud of our guys for sticking with it.”

Denver moved three points ahead of North Dakota for fourth place in the NCHC standings and climbed to four points of Western Michigan and six of Minnesota Duluth. The Pioneers have a game in hand on all three teams.

Line shuffles pay off

Doremus, who provided plenty of energy and scoring opportunities Friday moved onto a line with Liam Finlay and Tyson McLellan on Saturday, and the move paid dividends in the third period, when DU broke the game open with four goals.

Doremus found some room in the slot and redirected Griffin Mendel’s point shot past Larkin 5:17 into the third. Seconds later he took the puck down the left wing and snapped a shot over Larkin’s left shoulder to make it 3-1 at 5:34.

“Jack was great tonight. Really good last night as well,” Carle said. “His energy, his physicality and being around the puck was great all weekend long. And everyone saw what a great release he has on that second goal.”

Lukosevicius, who was reunited on a line with Emilio Pettersen, made it 4-2 when he scored on a power play with 7:46 to go.

Doremus drew the penalty that led to the man advantage, which was capped when Lukosevicius beautifully redirected Finlay’s shot pass from the left dot. The goal game Lukosevicius 100 career points, the 98th Pioneer to hit that plateau. It also marked Finlay’s third assist of the night.

The senior game DU an early 1-0 lead when he took a feed from Pettersen off the wall and snapped it past Larkin from the inside edge of the right circle 3:31 into the first period.

Captain Colin Staub put the game in the refrigerator with an empty-net goal with 2:22 to play.

Filip Larsson needed to make just 15 saves against Miami, which got a shorthanded goal from from Josh Melnick with 5:17 to play in the second period and a third-period goal that Zach LaValle tipped in after a point shot slipped through Larsson’s pads.

Denver’s three stars

1. Jack Doremus. He went from one to three career goals in a 17-second span of the third period that broke open a tight game.
2. Jarid Lukosevicius. When Luko scores, the Pioneers usually win – they’re now 8-0-2 this season when that happens.
3. Colin Staub. He and linemates Jaakko Heikkinen and Cole Guttman generated plenty of chances and controlled play when they were on the ice.

Up next

Denver travels to play Colorado College on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a makeup of the Jan. 18 game that past postponed due to a snowstorm.

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