DENVER - In yet another hard-nosed, intense battle chapter in the storied North Dakota-Denver rivalry, it was special teams that made the difference tonight. DU's special teams were indeed special. UND's, on the other hand, were not.

The ninth-ranked Pioneers scored three times on the power play and once short-handed to capture a 5-3 win over No. 14 UND and salvage a WCHA series split.

Despite the loss, UND (18-12-3, 14-11-1 WCHA) clinched home ice in the first round of the WCHA playoffs because of St. Cloud State's loss to Michigan Tech. It marks the 10th straight year the Sioux have earned home ice in the first round, the longest active streak in the WCHA.

UND also remained in sole possession of fourth place in the WCHA thanks to losses by Colorado College and Nebraska Omaha. The Sioux hold a two-point lead on fifth-place CC and UNO heading into the final week of the regular season.

Denver's special teams proficiency transformed a 1-1 game in the second period into a 5-2 Pioneers lead in the third period. Just 70 seconds after UND's Carter Rowney (Sexsmith, Alberta) had tied the game at 12:24 of the second period, DU's Chris Knowlton turned the momentum with a short-handed tally. Knowlton streaked up the right wing, fought off backchecking defensemen Nick Mattson and Dillon Simpson, and beat Brad Eidsness to the blocker side.

Two minutes later, DU's Jason Zucker scored a power-play goal to extend the lead to 3-1. UND's Brock Nelson replied seven seconds after the ensuing faceoff with his 21st of the season, but DU regained the 2-goal lead on a Scott Mayfield power-play goal.

UND had a chance to get back into the game with three minutes of power play time to start the third, but the Pioneers snuffed it out.

"The difference was specialty teams. Their power play converted and that was the difference in the game," said UND head coach Dave Hakstol. "Five-on-five it was a pretty tight-checking, hard-fought game."

"We give up the tough short-handed goal, battled back to make it 3-2 and then give up the tough (Mayfield) goal. Those were two pretty significant turning points."

Nelson added a short-handed goal with 1:17 remaining to close out the scoring. Linemate Danny Kristo (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) set up the goal for his 100th career point.

Eidsness, making his fourth straight start, stopped 19 shots through two periods before being relieved by Aaron Dell (Jr., Airdrie, Alberta). Dell stopped 12 of 13 shots in the third period.

Juho Olkinuora started for the Pioneers and stopped 27 of 30 shots.

With a three-point lead over seventh-place Michigan Tech, UND can secure a fourth-place finish, and possibly as high as third, next weekend against Minnesota State.

"Everything is in our hands," said Hakstol. "We gained some points on the teams closest to us. We hold our fate in our own hands as we go home next weekend."

Notes: Rowney played in his 100th career game ... Three players were ejected from the game: UND's Michael Parks (contact to the head) and DU's Matt Tabrum (checking from behind) and Joey LaLeggia (head-butting) ... Kristo has matched his career high with 36 points.