DENVER -- Denver senior goalie Sam Brittain stopped all 43 shots he faced to carry the Pioneers to a 3-0 win and NCHC series split against North Dakota tonight.

With the win, DU pulled into a tie with UND for first place in the NCHC standings.

It was UND's first loss since Nov. 29, snapping a 10-game unbeaten streak.

Brittain, a 5-time NCHC Goaltender of the Week, stymied a North Dakota attack that outshot the Pioneers 43-26 and earned his fourth shutout of the season.

Eighteen of Brittain's saves came during the third period when UND was desperately trying to generate offense. He also helped shut down a UND power-play unit that went scoreless on six tries one night after 2-4 performance.

Emil Romig opened the scoring 1:42 into the second period, beating Clarke Saunders from the top of the circle on an odd-man rush.

That was the only offense Brittain and the Pioneers would need, although Zac Larraza extended the lead to 2-0 with a power-play marker 1:07 into the third period and later added an empty netter with 3.5 seconds left on the clock.

Rocco Grimaldi led all players with seven shots on goal, but was denied at every turn by Brittain. UND's best chance to get on the board may have been a Michael Parks cross-bar in the third period.

Saunders stopped 24 of 26 shots in a losing cause.

UND is off next weekend and will return to action with back-to-back NCHC home series against Nebraska Omaha and Miami.