GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Denver scored three goals in the third period and hung on for a 5-4 win over the No. 11 Omaha hockey team in the NCHC Frozen Four Quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon.

The Mavericks battled back to tie the game at four, but the Pioneers got a late goal from Bo Hanson to win the single-elimination round being used this season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Omaha is now 14-10-1 overall and will have to wait for the NCAA selection committee to make its picks for the NCAA Playoffs next weekend.  Denver improved to 10-12-1 and will play either North Dakota or St. Cloud State in the Frozen Faceoff semifinals.

Inside the First Period
The Pioneers got the first lead of the game when Hank Crone finished a two-on-one with a top-corner shot at 8:25.

The Mavericks tied the game at 14:51 when Jason Smallidge's shot from the point slipped past goalie Magnus Chrona with Martin Sundberg screening in front.  Nolan Sullivan had the only assist.

Just 58 seconds later, Omaha took the lead when Joey Abate set up Matt Miller at the left faceoff circle.  His hard wrist shot beat Chrona for his eighth goal of the year.

Inside the Second Period
Both teams got into penalty trouble with both Denver's Antti Tuomisto and Sundberg getting majors and game misconducts for contact to the head.

The Mavericks killed off Sundberg's penalty and not long after, Tyler Weiss steered home a pass from Taylor Ward to boost the lead to 3-1.

But on an ensuing power play, DU drew back to within one when Bobby Brink scored on a one-timer at 16:57.

Inside the Third Period
Denver tied the game and then retook the lead on a pair of Mike Benning goals in the first 12 minutes of the period.

The Mavericks tied the game just 1:18 later when Kevin Conley dug the puck out of a net-mouth scramble and set up Nate Knoepke for his career-best fourth goal at 13:10.

But Hanson put the Pioneers in front to stay when he was able to deflect the puck past Isaiah Saville at 14:57.

The Mavericks had chances to tie it late, the best coming when Conley rang the crossbar in the waning minutes.

Saville stopped a game-high 33 shots while Chrona turned aside 24.

GAME NOTES:

• In addition to Knoepke's goal, Weiss reached a new high for goals in a season with his seventh.
• Saville picked up his career-best second assist of the season on Weiss' goal.
• Two of the Mavericks' four goals were upheld by video review.