Those throwback University of Denver sweaters and socks might be shelved for the rest of the season.
The recently almost-perfect Pioneers became the last NCAA team to lose at home Saturday night, falling 3-2 to the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs at Magness Arena. DU donned its 1950s retro uniforms for the first time and saw its nine-game winning streak and 11-game points streak come to end.
The third-ranked Pioneers (21-6-1, 14-4-0 NCHC), who beat the Bulldogs 5-3 on Friday night, fell to 14-1-1 at home. Minnesota-Duluth, which entered the two-game NCHC series as the last team to beat DU (Dec. 11 in Duluth), improved to 15-10-3, 8-5-3 NCHC.
The Bulldogs, who scored on their first shift of the game, forged ahead 3-2 with 4:44 remaining in regulation on a goal from sophomore defenseman Darian Gotz — his first career tally. It came after a mad scramble in front of DU goalie Magnus Chrona, who was knocked to the ice before Gotz’s shot.
DU controlled the play for much of the first two periods, outshooting the Bulldogs 25-15, but the Pioneers might have missed the net more than they put pucks on goalie Ryan Fanti. They finally broke through to tie it 1-1 at 12:21 of the middle frame when junior defenseman Justin Lee hammered a long slap shot through traffic and behind Fanti.
Winger Bobby Brink, the Hobey Baker Award candidate who leads the country in scoring, got the second assist to stretch his career-long points streak to 11 games.
Minutes after Lee tied it, Chrona made a breakaway save on Duluth winger Luke Loheit.
The Bulldogs scored on the game’s first shift, just 31 seconds in. Linemates Kobe Roth and Koby Bender converted on a counter-attack, with Roth burying Bender’s circle-to-circle pass.
Soon thereafter, DU freshman Carter Mazur was hooked from behind on a shorthanded breakaway bid. Referees awarded a penalty shot but Fanti made the save on Mazur’s forehand wrist shot.
DU took a 2-1 lead with a long shot through traffic from freshman defenseman Shai Buium at 4:27 of the third period. The Bulldogs tied it with a power-play goal by Roth at 7:46 on a play that was reviewed because of a possible high-stick. It counted.
Footnotes. DU freshman defenseman Sean Behrens, the Avalanche’s 2021 second-round draft pick, saw his career-high eight-game point streak. … DU concluded a four-game homestand and now begins four consecutive games on the road. The Pioneers visit Western Michigan for a two-game set next weekend before traveling to Omaha for a series Feb. 25-26 against the Mavericks. DU’s final regular-season home game is March 5 against Colorado College, a night after the rivals play in Colorado Springs. The NCHC playoffs begin March 11.
Article Source and Credit denverpost.com https://www.denverpost.com/2022/02/12/du-pioneers-winning-streak-snapped-loss-to-minnesota-duluth/ Buy Tickets for every event – Sports, Concerts, Festivals and more buytickets.com
