Denver hockey (13-9, 4-3) traveled to Grand Forks to face the Fighting Hawks Friday night. Denver usually owns the second period but the Pioneers were outscored 3-1 and tumbled to a disappointing road loss. UND tacked on a pair of empty-net goals in the third period to cap their winning performance.

North Dakota opened strong in the first period but could not solve goaltender Matt Davis. UND limited Denver’s scoring opportunities and shut down second-chance opportunities as DU struggled to find space to operate their nation-leading high-powered offense. Denver only got 2 shots-on-goal to 7 targets on North Dakota’s Ludvig Persson in the first 20 minutes.

Denver usually owns the second period but it was not to be Friday night. Five minutes into the period, North Dakota’s Dylan James scored a goal on a two-man breakout to put the Fighting Hawks up 1-0. Six minutes later, a quick breakout two-on-one and a slow reaction by the Denver defense hung Davis out to dry as Griffen Ness found the back of the net on a tap-in, 2-0. A minute and a half later at 13:18, DU’s Zeev Buium responded with a wrap around stuff, 2-1. The teams played even up until the two minute mark when UND went on the man advantage following a tripping penalty. Eighteen seconds later, UND’s Jackson Blake blasted a shot from the right point that found the upper left side of the cage, 3-1. Overall, a disappointing period, leaving an uphill climb in third period.

Denver just couldn’t get it going in the final twenty minutes. Their best opportunity was a two minute powerplay five minutes into the period but the Pioneers could not generate grade ‘A’ scoring opportunities and came up empty-handed. North Dakota pressed DU’s forwards, pushed DU wide and frustrated DU’s high-flying offense. Midway through the period, UND went on the PP and Denver lost two more minutes to try to close the two-goal gap. Suddenly, with five minutes to go, DU’s Aiden Thompson took a cross-ice pass and buried the puck on the short side past Persson, 3-2, UND.

Carle pulled Davis with two minutes to go, putting an extra man on offense but to no avail. UND buried an empty net goal at 55.9 to extinguish any hope Denver had to tie the game. Another empty netter thirty seconds later polished off DU, 5-2.

DU could only generate 18 shots on goal (to 30) for the game. Denver was beaten at the dot 28-17 and fell behind the Fighting Hawks in the NCHC standings by six points. This result sets up a big game Saturday night in Grand Forks when DU looks to improve their offensive output.

Wraparound by Zeev Buium gets the Pioneers on the board

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— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) January 27, 2024