Graduate transfer Jake Pivonka took full advantage of a Minnesota Duluth turnover in the offensive when he buried the game winning goal with 6:57 left in regulation. Pivonka's fifth lamp lighter of the season propelled the Mavericks to a 3-2 victory in tonight's series opener.

The nation's third ranked power play went right back to work tonight when sophomore blueliner Ty Mueller fired home his ninth goal of the season and fourth on the power play with 8:23 left in the 1st period to put Omaha up 1-0 on UMD. The opening goal was assisted by Jo Lemay and Nolan Sullivan. Lemay registered his seventh assist on the season after missing the last four games due to injury.

13:06 into the 2nd period and on the penalty kill, Jack Randl and Matt Miller created a defensive zone turnover then flew down the ice to bury a shorthanded goal and take a 2-0 lead. Randl fed Miller who tapped into a yawning cage for his seventh goal of the season. The shorthanded strike was the second one of the season for the Mavericks.

Omaha outshot Minnesota Duluth in tonight's contest 30-25. Senior netminder Jake Kucharski secured his sixth win of the season, turning away 23 of the 25 shots he faced this evening.

The Bulldogs and Mavericks will meet for the final time this regular season tomorrow night when they drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. from Baxter Arena.