Freshman Max Plante fights through defender to pursue the puck on Saturday, Jan. 25. Photo by Grant Jones

UMD Men’s Hockey hosted The University of Denver Pioneers at Amsoil Arena on Friday, Jan. 24. With an impressive 17-5 record, the Pioneers were a formidable match for the Bulldogs, who were coming off some recent success as well.

Over the winter break, Duluth put up a 4-2-1 record, most recently with a sweep against St. Cloud State and a split with Colorado College. This improved their record to 10-12-1 before entering the weekend.

Friday

UMD’s first strike and relentless effort until the final horn was enough to give them the huge upset win against Denver on Friday night.

First Period

The first period of play started out with Denver skating very strong and looking quick. Duluth did a good job of matching that energy and keeping their composure. Not much action throughout the period until Denver went to the penalty box on a tripping call at the 16:46 mark.

This was when Duluth’s Aaron Pionk rifled a shot from the point, where the puck found its way into the back of the net for a powerplay goal, giving UMD the lead 17:05 into the contest. The goal was Pionk’s second of the year, coming off passes form both Max and Zam Plante.

Just the lone goal in the first gave UMD the lead going into the second period. After one, UMD led 1-0, while trailing in shot on goal 16-8

Second Period

Denver decided to get even early in the period when they put up a goal just over two minutes in. The intensity only started to build after this game-tying goal.

About five minutes later, UMD’s Matthew Perkins went to the box for boarding, but fortunately Duluth was able to kill it off and return to even strength.

At the 13:04 mark of the period, Duluth got an opportunity to convert on a powerplay when a Denver player committed a holding penalty. They did just that, only 13 seconds into the man-advantage. This time it was Max Plante, picking up his second point of the night off a beautiful feed from Jayson Shaugabay and Callum Arnott.

Duluth wasn't quite done in the period. After killing another penalty committed by Dominic James, with great saves from freshmen goaltender Klayton Knapp, Duluth got another goal off a snipe from Kyle Bettens that pushed the lead to two.

Although still trailing in shots 22-30, Duluth led 3-1 heading into the final 20 minutes of play.

Third Period

Duluth’s Anthony Menghini got the scoring started in the period at the 6:39 mark. A quiet first couple minutes of the period worked in Duluth's favor, as they already had the lead and were most likely focused on keeping the puck out of their net.

Being the highly skilled team that Dnever is, they didn't let Duluth get away too easily. About 11 minutes into the period, Denver scored their second of the night to cut the Bulldog lead in half. Then, just a minute after that, Pionk headed to the box on a tripping call.

On their power play, Denver was able to draw another delayed penalty on the Bulldogs, allowing them to get their goalie to the bench and get an extra skater on the ice until UMD touched the puck. They took advantage of this six on four and scored yet again to make the contest a one-goal game.

Duluth now had to kill off another two minutes of being a man down in order to keep the lead. Their gritty effort allowed them to do just that and were able to avoid the game-tying goal.

With about two minutes left, Denver pulled their goaltender to get an extra skater out there but due to the effort of the Bulldog skaters and a great save by Knapp, they were not able to cash in. Duluth held on to win the game 4-3, trailing in shots on goal 30-45

Saturday

Duluth’s comeback effort couldn't quite get the job done in Saturday's game against the pioneers.

First Period

The first period of the game was much more even than on Friday. Duluth played much better defense to start the game, not allowing Denver to get a shot on goal until about five minutes into the game.

The Plante brothers continued to show their chemistry in the period, as they have been all year. Knapp continued to show his excellent play in the second game of the weekend, making big time saves to keep the Bulldogs in it.

Although Knapp played a solid period, Denver was able to squeak a goal off of a rebound from a shot with just 47 seconds left in the period. It was a scramble in the front of the net and the Denver player was in the right place at the right time.

After one, UMD trailed 0-1, while also trailing in shots 6-9.

Second Period

Duluth got a golden opportunity to tie the game back up when Denver got a penalty for fighting just 55 seconds into the period. Unfortunately, UMD was not able to convert and even worse, Denver scored just 14 seconds after killing their penalty. This pushed the Bulldog deficit to two.

6:39 into the period, Duluth’s Carter Loney and Denver’s Connor Caponi both went to the box for a two-minute penalty — slashing for Loney and roughing for Caponi.

About a minute into the 4 on 4, Denver committed another penalty to give UMD a chance at 4 on 3 hockey for a minute, and then 5 on 4 hockey for another. Unfortunately no goals were cashed in by the Bulldogs and the game stayed 0-2 after all the penalty chaos.

Halfway through the period, UMD surpassed Denver in shots on goal 17-16 and their next shot cut the Denver lead in half. This time it was Owen Gallitan who shot one from the point. The puck found its way through multiple bodies and into the back of the net. This goal ignited the spark back into Amsoil Arena on Saturday.

The intensity was building up at this point, with both teams exchanging shoves and jabs after the whistle.

With just under a minute left in the period, UMD’s Joe Molenaar made an incredible diving save as the puck snuck through Knapp’s pads. The save kept the game within one heading into period three.

Graduate student Joe Molenaar and freshman Klayton Knapp combined their efforts to make an incredible save in the second period on Saturday, Jan. 25. Photo by Emmaleah Allen

Third Period

Joey Pierce continued the high intensity to start the third period by laying a huge body check on a Denver skater. This got the crowd and Bulldog bench to their feet.

Although the pace seemed to be getting followed in the third period as well, it didn't hold true the whole time. Both teams were playing a little smarter when it came to after-whistle activities.

The first big action of the period came at the 8:30 mark when Duluth went to the penalty box for high sticking. Fortunately, Duluth was able to kill it off and keep the game within one.

Denver was doing a good job of keeping the puck out of their zone, only allowing UMD to get eight shots on the period — half of what they let Duluth get in the second.

As the period was winding down, Duluth made one last attempt to try to tie the game up. With about two minutes left, Knapp headed to the bench to give Duluth an extra skater. Unfortunately, the effort was not enough and the Pioneers defeated the Bulldogs to split the series.

Although the team didn't get both wins, captain Dominic James was proud of the way the team is playing as of late.

“We are really excited about the way that we are moving… Knapper (Knapp) is battling so hard for us back there…it's good to see some success here,” said James.

The Bulldogs are off next weekend but will return to the ice when they head south to take on The University of Nebraska at Omaha in a weekend series on Jan. 7 and 8. Both games are set for puck drop at 7:07 p.m.

Men's Hockey Goes 1-1 in Weekend Series Against No. 5 Ranked Denver