No. 6 Minnesota Duluth scored twice in the third period to accomplish something no team had been able to prior to Saturday night – defeat No. 3 Denver at Magness Arena.

Kobe Roth‘s second goal of the game – power-play strike – and defenseman Darian Gotz‘s goal from outside the left dot just after a power play had ended were the difference in a 3-2 victory over the Pioneers. Denver saw its overall unbeaten streak end at 11 and its home unbeaten streak end at 15.

Defensemen Shai Buium and Justin Lee scored for DU (21-6-1, 14-4 NCHC).

The game had more of a playoff feel, and the Bulldogs (15-11-3, 8-6-3), needing to pick up NCHC points in the worst way, played lock down defense for much of the contest. Even though the Pioneers outshot their guests 35-24, the amount of quality looks DU got were minimal. For evidence of that look at where both goals were scored – from the perimeter.

Lee’s wrister from the right point came with 7:39 to go in the second from the right point. Buium’s shot came from the high slot 4:27 into the third period.

Both beat backup goaltender Zach Stejskal (20 saves), who replaced injured starter Ryan Fanti (13 saves) after the first period. But Stejskal, who was diagnosed with and overcame testicular cancer earlier this season, was up to the task when DU tried to tie the score after Gotz’s tally with 4:44 to play that beat Magnus Chrona on the short side.

Roth’s tying goal came when Lee went down to block a shot in front of Chrona (21 saves), the puck hit off Lee and went in the air and landed behind Chrona’s left shoulder and in the net.

The Pioneers, who lead second-place North Dakota by two points in the NCHC standings, will travel to third-place Western Michigan next weekend for another matchup against a top-10 team.

©First Line Editorial 2022