OMAHA, Neb. – The No. 11 Omaha hockey team fell to No. 15 Denver, 4-1, on Saturday night at Baxter Arena.
The Mavericks, playing their first home game of the new year and first official home game of the season, fell to 8-4-1 overall and 8-4-1-2-0 (1) in conference play, putting them in a tie with Minnesota Duluth for third place.
The Pioneers improved to 6-8-1 overall and 6-8-1-0-1 (1) in the conference, good for fifth.
Inside the First Period
The Pioneers opened the scoring during a UNO power play. Antti Tuomisto beat
Isaiah Saville with a wrist shot from the low slot at 13:52.
The Mavericks tied the game just 17 seconds later.
Jack Randl fed
Matt Miller who steered the puck just inside the left post for his fifth goal of the season.
Kirby Proctor also assisted.
Inside the Second Period
The Pioneers took the lead back 1:03 into the period when a bad bounce led to a 2-on-1 for Denver. Hank Crone finished a pass from Bobby Brink to make it 2-1.
Carter Savoie scored on a rebound at 17:42 of the period to stretch the DU lead to two at the intermission.
Inside the Third Period
Jaakko Heikkinen added a goal off a turnover just 3:21 into the third period to complete the scoring.
Saville finished with a game-high 26 saves while Corbin Kaczperski made 23 stops for the Pioneers.
The two teams will finish the series on Sunday at 6:07 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
- The Mavericks killed off all five DU power plays in the game and now have killed 42 straight over more than 11 games. They lead the NCHC at 93.8 percent.
- Senior Kevin Conley had a four-game point streak snapped in the loss.
- The game marked just the fourth time the Mavericks have allowed more than two goals this season and the first time in five games.
Three Stars: 1. Antii Tuomisto/DU (1-1-2); 2. Jaakko Heikkinen/DU (1-1-2); 3.
Matt Miller/Omaha (One goal)
