Forward Jack Devine scored two goals, including what proved to be the winner midway through the second period as No. 3 Denver pulled away from Minnesota Duluth, 6-2, on Friday night at Magness Arena.

The Pioneers (24-7, 15-4 NCHC) locked up at least a top-four finish in the NCHC, meaning they will host a quarterfinal series March 10-12. As it stands, DU is in first place, eight points ahead of Omaha and Western Michigan (next weekend’s opponent).

Denver erupted for three third-period goals to put the game away after the teams traded the first four goals and Devine got the decisive tally on a breakaway.

Devine’s second goal came with 7:08 to play and made it 4-2. Jared Wright scored with 3:56 left after exiting the penalty box and winning a race to a loose puck, and McKade Webster scored into the empty net with 2:30 to go.

That scoring spree came on the heels of DU killing off a five-minute penalty to Casey Dornbach for head contact on a bang-bang collision with UMD’s Dominic James.

Magnus Chrona made 31 saves for Denver, and Jack Caruso added one after coming on following Webster’s goal.

The Bulldogs, who got 25 saves from Zach Stejskal, took took the first lead on a shorthanded goal by Jesse Jacques with 5:16 to go in the first. Tanner Laderoute chipped the puck up the boards near the benches, Jacques got to it first and went in along on Chrona.

Not even two minutes later freshman Aidan Thompson tied on a 5-on-3 power-play goal from the right dot off a nice cross-ice pass from Shai Buium.

Luke Loheit buried a rebound that hit a pipe behind Chrona 4:30 into the second, but defenseman Mike Benning one-timed a pass from Carter Mazur between the circles while DU again was on a power play to tie it.

Devine got the winner 2:23 later when Mazur chipped the puck off the boards near the penalty boxes and Devine got to the puck first. He zipped into the Bulldogs’ zone and beat Stejskal glove side.

Notes: Not only did the Pioneers net two power-play goals, but their penalty kill went 5-for-5. … Devine added an assist, and Thompson had two, giving both players three-point nights. … If DU wins Saturday night it will sweep the season series against Duluth.

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