Box Score OMAHA, Neb. – Denver scored three goals in the third period to pull away from the Omaha Mavericks, winning 5-1 in game two of their NCHC Quarterfinal series on Friday night.

The two teams will play the final game of the series on Saturday night at 7:07 p.m.  The winner will advance to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff in Minneapolis, Minn. on March 21-22.

Trailing 2-0 entering the third period, the Mavericks got on the board when Brian Cooper collected a pass from Jake Guentzel at the left point and wired a shot over the shoulder of DU goalie Sam Brittain at 1:10.  It was Cooper's second goal of the year.  Dominic Zombo also earned an assist.

But the Pioneers boosted their lead to 3-1 just over five minutes later when Matt Tabrum scored from in tight on UNO goalie Ryan Massa.

Just 49 seconds later, Matt Marcinew made it 4-1, ending the night for Massa who finished with 20 saves.

Kirk Thompson surrendered a powerplay goal to Denver's Will Butcher at 13:25 for the final tally of the game.  Thompson had four saves.

The Mavericks finished with a 33-29 shot advantage, but Brittain made 30 saves to earn the win.  He was relieved with 2:16 to go in the game, and Evan Cowley finished, making two stops.

Denver broke the scoreless tie at 13:38 of the second period.  Ty Loney got loose at the left wing and fed the puck to Evan Janssen who snapped home his first goal of the season.

The Pioneers doubled their lead late in the period.  Again, Loney set up the play, dishing a pass in traffic to Trevor Moore who flipped the puck past Massa to make it 2-0 after two.

Loney led the way for Denver with three assists while Marcinew had an assist to go along with his goal.

The Mavericks dropped to 17-17-2 this season while Denver improved to 17-15-2.  The Mavs are now 8-7 all-time in elimination games and will be looking for their first playoff series win since the 2009-10 season when they beat Bowling Green in the first round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs.