No. 3 DU runs its home unbeaten streak to 15

Denver forward Bobby Brink. Photo courtesy of Denver Athletics

No. 3 Denver keeps taking care of business at home.

The Pioneers ran their record at Magness Arena to 14-0-1 with Friday night’s 5-3 victory over No. 6 Minnesota Duluth.

Five players scored goals – in five different scenarios – and Magnus Chrona made 16 saves against a Bulldogs team that refused to go away.

Denver (21-5-1, 14-3 NCHC) took command – as it usually does – with a stellar second period.

Mike Benning, Cole Guttman and McKade Webster took a 1-1 deadlock to 4-1 during a 7-minute stretch midway through the period.

Benning’s one-time blast of a feed from fellow defenseman Shai Buium 9:31 in gave DU a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. That goal came on the power play.

Just 3:31 later Guttman made it 3-1 with a 4-on-4 goal, and 3:56 after that Webster scored at even strength. Carter King scored a shorthanded goal in the first period, and Bobby Brink, who set up Guttman’s goal on a terrific give-and-go play, scored into the empty net with 1:26 to go in regulation.

Duluth (14-11-3, 7-6-3) originally tied the score on Blake Biondi‘s power-play strike with 7:53 to go in the first. The Bulldogs also twice got last-minute goals – by Casey Gilling in the second period and Tanner Laderoute in the third. They didn’t impact the outcome, but in both instances they gave the guests some jump.

The offensive output continued a couple of impressive scoring runs. Brink now has points in 11 consecutive games, 18 of the past 19, and 43 overall, including 33 assists. Guttman has nine goals in his past nine games, and his 14th tied his career high. He added an assist, giving him a career-best 32 points. Benning’s goal was the defenseman’s 10th of the season, and Webster struck for third time in six games after scoring just twice in the first 21. Even King, who did not have an NCAA goal going into last Saturday’s game against St. Cloud State, now has goals in back-to-back games.

Duluth’s Ryan Fanti made 27 saves.

Notes: The teams complete their four-game regular-season series Saturday at 6 p.m. … Denver held a 32-19 shots on goal edge.

About the Author

Mayhem
Longtime journalist with more than two decades of experience writing about every level of amateur and pro hockey. Almost as longtime of an adult league player.

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