OMAHA, Neb. - Eighth-ranked Denver scored a pair of third-period goals to earn a 3-1 win over Omaha Hockey Saturday on Senior Night at Baxter Arena.
Omaha (10-20, 6-14 NCHC) went into the final period in a 1-1 tie after Jérémy Loranger scored with 7:49 left in the second period.
But Denver (19-11-3, 15-6-1 NCHC) scored in the opening two minutes of the third and added an empty-netter with 31.8 seconds remaining to secure the series.
The teams went into the first intermission scoreless as both teams killed off a penalty. Omaha also killed off a 5-on-3 power play early in the second period before Denver struck first midway through the frame.
But less than three minutes later with the Mavericks on a power play, Omaha tied it 1-1 as Jérémy Loranger scored on a one-timer from just outside the face-off circle. It was Loranger's fifth goal of the season as Jacob Guévin and
Griffin Ludtke earned assists.
For Ludtke, it was his team-leading 14th assist this season.
Denver, though, quickly regained the lead in the third period as Rieger Lorenz scored 82 seconds into the frame.
Omaha put pressure on the Pioneers after that as Denver goaltender Johnny Hicks made 13 saves in the first 16 minutes of the third period. Omaha pulled goaltender
Simon Latkoczy off the ice in the final minutes, but Denver's Jake Fisher wrapped up the victory with an empty-net goal.
Latkoczy finished his night with 21 saves.
Omaha recognized seven seniors in a pregame ceremony. The seniors were Ludtke, Guévin, Latkoczy,
Samuel Huo,
Jacob Slipec,
Tyler Rollwagen and
Cameron Mitchell.
Omaha begins its final road series of the regular season on Friday at Arizona State.
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