Seven players scored goals, and six players had multi-point games as top-ranked Denver avenged a series-opening loss to Alaska Fairbanks with a resounding 7-2 victory Saturday night at Magness Arena.

The Pioneers (17-5) seized a 3-1 lead in the first period and salted the game away in the third with four more goals to split the series. Magnus Chrona made 27 saves for DU, which returns to NCHC play next weekend against Miami.

Here are some takeaways from the victory:

Denver’s scoring balance continues to grow

It’s fair to say the Pioneers are finding combinations that can generate more offense.

Yes, usual suspects such as Massimo Rizzo (10th goal plus an assist to extend his points streak to nine games) and Carter Mazur (16th goal – an empty-netter – plus an assist on Rizzo’s first-period goal) struck, but so did defenseman Justin Lee and forwards Jack Devine (power play), McKade Webster (power play), Jared Wright and Carter King.

In addition, defensemen Sean Behrens and Mike Benning added two assists apiece. Benning, too, extended his points streak to nine, and has 15 points during that span. King and Webster also added an assist.

Shots are hard to come by

For the second night in a row, Denver was outshot by the Nanooks (11-9-2), not an easy accomplishment. One night after generating just 20 shots on goal, the Pioneers had 24. Alaska had 30, the last of which was saved by Jack Caruso, who saw action in an NCAA regular-season game for just the second time in three seasons during the game’s final five minutes.

Alaska entered the series with Division I’s third-stingiest defense, and it stayed true to that. One big difference Saturday was senior goaltender Matt Radomsky (17 saves) wasn’t nearly as sharp as he was Friday.

Still, the Nanooks’ strategy of strongly contesting shots and passes, as well as clogging the neutral zone, surely is something future Pioneers opponents will take note of.

If there is a concern going forward, it’s that Alaska is a big, physical team – the type that has at times given DU problems. The mission for the Pioneers is playing as they did Saturday to overcome such strategies.

©First Line Editorial 2023