Whether it was an emotional letdown after sweeping North Dakota in Grand Forks or the fact that finals were this week, the #1 Denver Pioneers (12-1-0, 2-1-0 NCHC) served up their first true bad game of the season in a 3-2 loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils (5-7-1, 2-3-0 NCHC) at Magness Arena. The Pioneers’ winning streak ends at 21, dating back to last March and their program-best start to the season ends at 12 straight wins.

ASU scored just 35 seconds in and set the tone for the game. The Pioneers fell behind early and even though they responded and tied it up by the end of the first period thanks to a power-play goal from captain Carter King, they were stuck chasing the game from the jump.

The Sun Devils outskated and outworked the Pioneers all game long and it was best exemplified during the second period, a period that Denver has prided itself on dominating over the better part of the last decade. ASU outshot the Pioneers 15-6 in the middle frame and for the most part, played keep-away with the puck. It was extremely effective hockey against the top team in the country and for a while, it looked like Bennett Shimek’s goal more than seven minutes into the period would be all the Sun Devils would need to pull of the upset.

King took full advantage of a rare ASU mistake in front of Luke Pavicich and roofed an easy shot to tie the game at 2 with just four minutes left. Not only was it a surprising mistake from the Sun Devils, it was the first time that Pavicich wasn’t there to bail out his defensive teammates. ASU’s stalwart goaltender stopped 30 of DU’s 32 shots and, thanks to a couple of timely highlight-reel saves, kept the Pioneers’ offense at bay.

For a moment, it looked like King’s goal would either breathe new life into the Pioneers or, at the very least, send the game into overtime. However, Artem Shlaine had different thoughts after he was the beneficiary of a DU neutral zone mistake. With just 45 seconds left, he grabbed the puck after two DU skaters couldn’t come away with it and wristed a knuckling shot past Matt Davis’ blocker to restore ASU’s one-goal lead and put the game out of Denver’s reach.

Blame whatever you want to for DU’s first mishap of the season. Was it the fact that Denver’s schedule to this point was relatively weak and ASU is the best team they’ve played to this point? Maybe. Was it the emotional letdown after a huge road sweep in Grand Forks (UND escaped Robert Morris tonight with a 4-3 OTW at the Ralph for what it’s worth)? Possibly. Or was it the fact that DU was was almost certainly mentally and physically drained after a poorly timed finals week? Truthfully, it was probably a combination of all of it.

But no matter what, the Pioneers served up their first dud of the season tonight and they have the first blemish in the loss column of the season to show for it. But what has this team done all season long when falling behind? That’s right. They respond. We will see for the first time tomorrow night how this team reacts to a loss. Can they rebound and salvage a home split before the Thanksgiving bye week? Only one way to find out – the puck drops at Magness Arena tomorrow at 6 pm.

It’s Teddy Bear Toss night. Don’t forget your plush toys!

Top photo courtesy of Clarkson Creative via Denver Athletics