Sometime on Saturday the glass surrounding the rink inside of Magness Arena will stop shaking. Of course, that’s par for the course when No. 4 Denver and North Dakota tangle in an NCHC matchup.

Carter Mazur scored two goals, and Magnus Chrona made 34 saves to lift the Pioneers to a 5-3 victory over the Fighting Hawks on Friday night. It was DU’s third consecutive victory against North Dakota this season and increased its lead in the NCHC standings to five points over Western Michigan and St. Cloud State.

Defenseman Sean Behrens had a goal and an assist, Aidan Thompson and Massimo Rizzo had a goal each, and defenseman Mike Benning added two assists for the Pioneers (22-7, 13-4 NCHC).

Coping with penalties was the challenge

The determination levels weren’t diminished despite the Fighting Hawks’ national standing this season. Perennially ranked, North Dakota (12-12-4, 6-9-2) entered fighting for its postseason life. Its power play kept it on life support. Two of its three goals came on the man advantage in a game that featured 15 penalties totaling 33 minutes.

“The biggest thing is just limit those mistakes,” Behrens said. “I thought we played a physical game, and I didn’t think any of the penalties were that bad, retaliations.”

After allowing two PPGs in its first four kills, the Pioneers did not give up a goal on the final four. Still, file the amount of penalties under the needs improvement category.

“We need to adjust to the standard that’s being called,” DU coach David Carle said. “It was a choppy, ugly hockey game from the start. Not a lot of flow to it. Not a ton of sustained O-zone time for either team.

“You had some dynamic players who made big-time plays tonight, particularly off the rush.”

The Pioneers outscored their guests 5-1 at five-on-five.

Still, the penalty parade worked in North Dakota’s favor. The Fighting Hawks’ two power-play goals included one which came on an all-you-can eat version midway through the second period courtesy of Tristan Broz’s major for hitting from behind.

That latter strike, by Judd Caulfield with 9:23 to go in the second, trimmed the Pioneers’ lead to 4-3.

However, DU held up well for much of the kill. It allowed six shots on goal, but also had as many clears, and it blocked three shots.

North Dakota had tied it at 2 on Ethan Frisch’s power-play marker 4:53 into the second. DU got pinned in its zone and started chasing the puck instead of staying in position. NoDak defenseman Chris Jandric carried the puck behind the Denver net, and he found Frisch alone between the circles. The defenseman scored on a play Chrona had no chance on.

Three key Pioneers end scoring droughts

The game also served to snap extended scoring slumps by Mazur, Rizzo and Thompson – three key components for the Pioneers’ playoff push.

Mazur’s tallies ended a season-long, five-game goal drought and hiked his total to 19, tied for third in Division I. His second goal, with only 4:53 expired in the third period, gave Denver a bit of a cushion, and it was a study in determination.

What a move & shot by Carter Mazur, as he scores his 19th of the season in impressive fashion. pic.twitter.com/qgD2CgmVkg

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) February 11, 2023

“I thought he was really engaged with moving his feet tonight, trying to attack the inside of the ice,” Carle said. “I thought he was moving it at the right time, holding it at the right time. I thought he looked really determined from his first shot. He played a big game on the penalty kill as well.

“It was one of the best he’s had in a while.”

The sophomore skated in the middle of four North Dakota defenders and fired a shot as he was falling to the ice.

“I just got the puck from Mike Benning, saw open ice from there and though I might as well take it,” Mazur said. “I don’t remember from there other than I know I fell over and shot it.”

Not only was the two-goal lead important, but it was the first – and only – time DU solved backup goalie Jakob Hellsten. Mazur’s strike came on Denver’s ninth shot on the sophomore.

“I hate UND, I’ll be honest. I hate seeing the green in our building,” Mazur said. “To get those two goals was massive for my confidence in a way, but it’s all about the team.”

The news was good for DU’s top two centers as well; Rizzo snapped a six-game drought, and Thompson ended a five-game drought.

Denver’s response early in the second

The Pioneers turned the game with a timely response, chasing North Dakota starting goaltender Drew DeRidder immediately after Frisch’s goal early in the second period.

“I think it was a huge confidence booster just to know that we can respond, and we talk about those moments on the bench,” Carle said. “Even the first Mazur goal, whether it was an offsides or not, it was a big shift. We need to make sure we’re carrying the mail.

“After a goal against in that situation the response was excellent and just built a belief and confidence in the group that we can get punched in the mouth and get back up.”

Behrens scored off a nice cross-ice pass from Jack Devine just 16 seconds after North Dakota had tied it. Then Rizzo struck 14 seconds later. So 5:23 into the second and DeRidder was finished with seven saves on 11 shots.

“To have that happen was huge, just to get that momentum back after they’d tied,” Mazur said.

2 goals in 14 seconds and the Pioneers are up 4-2 in the second period. pic.twitter.com/WXrqunH09n

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) February 11, 2023

Added Behrens, “This team has a lot of character. When we get punched in the face, we’re getting a lot better at responding. That was huge for us tonight, it ended up changing the game.”

If there is an explanation for North Dakota’s plunge this season, one area to consider is in net. The program, which typically features very good to great goaltending, didn’t appear to have that Friday. Bear in mind, the Fighting Hawks defend the middle of the ice as well as anyone, so their goalies tend to not see a multitude of high-danger chances.

The game started with a flurry of big hits and a heads-up play by Thompson. The DU freshman intercepted a pass in the high slot, took a few strides and beat the 5-foot-11 DeRidder upstairs.

After a Carson Albrecht goal knotted the score 4:38 later, Mazur buried his 18th of the season from above the right circle off a pass from Behrens, who had skated deep into the left side of the NoDak zone.

©First Line Editorial 2023