Box Score OMAHA, Neb. – No. 17 Denver handed the No. 6 Omaha hockey team its first home loss of the season, beating the Mavericks 3-0 on Friday night.

The loss at Baxter Arena dropped the Mavericks to 14-4-1 overall and 4-4-1-0/0 in the NCHC, putting them in a tie with Denver for fourth.  The Pioneers have an identical 4-4-1-0/0 mark in the conference and are now 8-7-4 overall.

UNO is now 8-1-0 at Baxter Arena.

The Pioneers took the lead in the game, something no team had done in the previous eight games at Baxter Arena.  Will Butcher finished off an odd-man rush by converting a pass from Colin Staub at 3:57.

Just 19 seconds later, Denver doubled its lead when Blake Hillman cut to the net and slipped the puck under goaltender Evan Weninger for his first collegiate goal.

Weninger was injured later in the first period and was replaced by Kirk Thompson at 10:16.

Denver added to its lead at 4:27 of the second period.  Just after killing off a penalty, Butcher got his second of the night, firing a shot to the top corner past Thompson.

All three DU goals came from defensemen.

Tanner Jaillet became the first opposing goalie to shutout the Mavericks this year, stopping all 35 shots as UNO outshot DU, 35-19.  He helped the Pioneers turn aside on all six UNO power plays.  DU was 0-for-3 with the man advantage.

The two teams finish the series on Saturday at 7:07 p.m.