Top-ranked Minnesota Duluth turned up the heat after a turbulent first period, but No. 7 Denver kept its Cool for a 2-0 victory.

Sophomore Devin Cooley made 38 saves, at least 16 from close range, and Ian Mitchell and Jarid Lukosevicius scored goals to give the Pioneers (6-2-1, 3-2 NCHC) their first signature victory of the season.

“He was incredible,” DU coach David Carle said of his goaltender. “It’s his best performance of the year no question. He won us a hockey game.”

One and done

Despite its 38-14 shots on goal edge, Duluth (8-2-1, 2-1 NCHC) rarely had second chances at Cooley, who earned his second shutout of the season.

“I thought our team did a really good job blocking out and limiting odd-man rushes, picking up sticks at the back door,” the goalie said. “They allowed me to see the first shot, make that first save and I didn’t have to worry about anything else after that.”

Cooley was especially sharp in the second period, when he made 18 saves, including on a breakaway by Koby Bender with 6:06 to and a left-pad dandy 90 seconds later with DU killing one of its five penalties.

“He’s a rock. He’s been our rock all year so far,” captain Colin Staub said. “He had his work cut out for him tonight, we could have played better in front of him. When we didn’t, he bailed us out and was fantastic tonight.”

Veterans night

Denver honored veterans throughout the evening, and the Pioneers’ more experienced skaters played accordingly and helped DU its seventh win in a row over the Bulldogs.

“It was their best game of the year by far,” Carle said. “We leaned on them to make hard plays, especially in the third period. They were changing on the fly, they made smart changes and we were able to get fresh bodies in the offensive zone. That allowed us to sustain a little bit of pressure and keep the game going and keep the clock going.”

Despite UMD’s 18-6 SOG edge in the second, Denver got the first goal. Mitchell’s power-play strike came on just the fifth shot on goal of the game for DU, midway through the second period, and on one of its first sustained attacks in the offensive zone to that point.

Emilio Petterson worked the puck from the left half wall across to Liam Finlay on the right point, and the junior found Mitchell open in the high slot. The Chicago Blackhawks draft pick unleashed a high hard one that went over Hunter Shepard (12 saves), who was screened by Lukosevicius.

Lukosevicius made a diving play near the DU line to score an empty-netter with 37 seconds remaining.

Back to school

The first period featured as many penalties (nine) as shots on goal and all of 5:32 was played at full strength. It also featured dueling five-minute majors – Brett Stapley‘s hit from behind on Scott Perunovich, the Bulldogs’ omnipresent defenseman, earned him a game misconduct 21 seconds into the contest, while UMD’s Louie Roehl also was hit with a five but no ejection after he leveled Staub from behind 8 minutes in.

UMD got its attack rolling in the second period while Shepard could have passed for a Maytag repairman in stretches. That actually worked in Cooley’s favor.

“I think it depends on the situation a lot, but it’s definitely easier to stay in it,” Cooley said. “When you only see 10 shots you can struggle to stay in it. When you’re constantly seeing more shots you get more comfortable, especially when you’re saving them.”

And save them he did. The victory provided a much needed shot in the arm for the Pioneers after getting swept at St. Cloud in a weekend that was long teachable moments. But there is plenty to improve upon, Staub concluded.

“(The win is) huge when you look at what our last two games were and what we have ahead of us, this is a tough stretch for us,” Staub said. “Getting a win against a high-quality opponent like this is huge for us confidence-wise and growing as a team.

“We didn’t even play our best game. Duluth gave us a lot to handle. There is a lot to take away from (this) so we can come away a better team.”

Notes

DU freshman goalie Filip Larsson, who has been out since the preseason because of a lower-body injury, dressed for a game for the first time this season. Larsson was a sixth-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. … Stapley’s ejection came on a night DU dressed seven defensemen instead of an extra forward. Kohen Olischefski moved up to center Liam Finlay and Tyler Ward.

Denver’s three stars

1. Devin Cooley. The sophomore turned in a superlative performance, stopping 38 shots.
2. Ian Mitchell. A rock on defense and scored the winning goal with a laser shot.
3. Colin Staub. The captain was emblematic of the Pioneers’ veterans all-out effort and effectiveness.

Up next

The teams play the second game of the series Saturday at 7:07 p.m. at Magness Arena.

©First Line Editorial 2017-18