The Denver Pioneers appeared at least temporarily deflated — there’s that word again — when their two goaltenders took turns giving up “softies” to Minnesota Duluth at Magness Arena on Saturday night.
As a result, DU fell 4-2 to the Bulldogs and had to settle for a split of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference weekend series.
Trailing 3-1 after two periods, the Pioneers got within one on Quentin Shore’s eighth goal of the season at 4:59 of the third, but the Bulldogs held on and secured the win with Adam Krause’s empty-netter with 55.9 seconds remaining.
The loss left DU at 15-9-1 overall and 8-7-0 in the NCHC and the Pioneers next face rival Colorado College in Colorado Springs on Friday.
DU, which won the series opener 3-2 on Friday, entered the weekend ranked 11th nationally and probably will at least remain there after the split with the No. 7 Bulldogs. Despite the top-10 ranking, UMD came into the night struggling and only 1-4-1 in its last six. The win got the Bulldogs to 15-10-1 overall and 9-6-1 in the league.
PHOTOS: Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs defeated the Denver Pioneers, 4-2
“UMD is such a high-quality opponent,” said DU coach Jim Montgomery. “Their team speed is the best in the nation that we see.”
The Bulldogs opened the scoring when junior defenseman Andy Welinski, an Anaheim Ducks draft choice and a Duluth hometown product, got off a harmless-looking wrist shot from the point that eluded DU goalie Evan Cowley at 4:11 of the first period.
DU tied it up on Zac Larraza’s eighth goal of the season at 12:00.
Cowley opened in the Pioneers net after freshman Tanner Jaillet made the previous four starts and had 28 saves against the Bulldogs on Friday. Despite allowing the shaky goal, Cowley had 11 saves in the first period, but Montgomery made the switch back to Jaillet for the start of the second.
UMD was back in the lead at 7:51 of the second when sophomore center Dominic Toninato knocked in a rebound for his team-leading 14th goal of the season. And it was 3-1 when Jaillet failed to control or cover a soft shot and Alex Iafallo pounced on the puck and scored at 15:01.
At that point, Montgomery yanked Jaillet and sent Cowley back out.
After Shore’s goal made it 3-2, DU couldn’t break through for the tying score on a pair of power plays in the final 10 minutes.
“I was really happy with the way Cowley responded,” Montgomery said. “I thought when he came back in, he was rock-solid and he looked like that goaltender that stoned North Dakota for 32 shots.”
