Box Score Box Score

DENVER, Colo. – The UNO Mavericks fought back from three one-goal deficits to earn a 3-3 tie with Denver on Saturday night at Magness Arena.

The tie kept the Mavericks and Pioneers tied atop the WCHA with 20 points each.  UNO is now 13-9-2 overall and 9-5-2 in the WCHA while DU is 13-6-4 overall and 8-4-4 in the league.

The Mavericks carried play in the third period and overtime in a bid for their first-ever win in Denver.  They outshot the Pioneers 26-11 through the final 25 minutes and finished with a 46-36 shot advantage.  James Polk had one of the best chances off a rebound from a sharp angle late in the third.  DU had a couple of good opportunities, the best from leading goal-scorer Chris Knowlton who got alone in front of the UNO net but was stuffed by John Faulkner both in the third and overtime.

Faulkner made 33 saves while Denver goalie Juho Olkinuora made 43 saves in the game and 81 saves in the two-game series.

The Pioneers got off to a quick start, scoring just 1:31 into the game.  Scott Mayfield carried the puck into the zone and then fed the puck to Daniel Doremus on the right wing.  He passed back across to Zac Larraza who fired home his fifth of the year and third of the weekend.

The Mavs tied the game with just 20 seconds remaining in the stanza.  Tanner Lane forced a giveaway at the blue line by defenseman David Makowski.  Matt White raced ahead on a breakaway, held off defenseman Joey LaLeggia and slid the puck under goalie Juho Olkinuora for his 12th goal of the season.

DU retook the lead early in the second.  Shawn Ostrow scored a powerplay goal just 2:44 into the period after the Pioneers had just killed off a UNO power play.

The Mavericks answered just 1:05 later when Josh Archibald kept the puck in at the blue line, walked in and snapped a shot over the shoulder of Olkinuora for his sixth goal in the last four games.

UNO seemed to catch a break when DU defenseman Joey LaLeggia was tossed from the game for checking from behind.  But on the ensuing five-minute power play, Paul Phillips converted on a shorthanded 2-on-1 break to give the Pioneers a 3-2 lead.

Late in the period, with DU seemingly in control, Ryan Walters picked up a loose puck and rifled a shot just under the crossbar.  The Mavs then weathered another penalty kill to preserve the 3-3 tie at the intermission.

The Mavericks will have a week off before returning to action at Bemidji State on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25 and 26.