Good riddance.

No. 4 Denver endured another penalty-filled game with North Dakota and emerged with a decisive 5-2 victory Saturday night at Magness Arena.

The win gave the Pioneers (23-7, 14-4 NCHC) a weekend and season sweep of the Fighting Hawks (12-13-4, 6-10-2), and it’s fair to ask if they crippled the visitors’ hopes for an NCAA Tournament berth.

Unlike Friday’s game, when Denver outscored North Dakota 5-1 in five-on-five play, the Pioneers didn’t score at all at five-on-five – partially because so little of the game was played at even strength. DU pumped in three power-play goals in the first two periods, then played goal give and take in the third, when each team scored twice. Both Pioneers third-period goals came during four-on-four situations.

Centers Aidan Thompson and Massimo Rizzo scored for the second night in a row, and a third pivot, Carter King, also scored, as did Tristan Broz and defenseman Shai Buium. Rizzo added an assist, and defenseman Sean Behrens added two, giving both players two two-point games this weekend.

Magnus Chrona was his usual steady self, stopping 21 shots.

Friday’s penalty parade had an even more dynamic encore Saturday. The 33 minutes were an opening act compared to Saturday’s 82 minutes, including 50 on the Fighting Hawks.

North Dakota, which received third-period goals from Mark Senden and Jackson Blake, had two players ejected – forward Gavin Hain and defenseman Tyler Kleven. Hain was given the gate in the first period for kneeing, and King scored 16 seconds later.

Kleven was sent to the showers midway through the second period for contact to the head on Pioneers captain Justin Lee. Thompson and Buium connected during that power play. In all, 22 penalties were called.

Notes: The Pioneers will play host to Minnesota Duluth next weekend before heading to Western Michigan. … Denver outshot North Dakota 37-23. Fighting Hawks goalie Drew DeRidder made 32 saves.

©First Line Editorial 2023