DENVER-- Host Denver took a 2-0 lead and hung on for a 2-1 win Friday evening at Magness Arena in National Collegiate Hockey Conference action. 

This game followed a similar script that's been evident recently this season with UND controlling play and owning the possession battle but not getting the result to show for it. 

"It is a little frustrating, but you can't lose your faith," UND head coach Brad Berry said. "You gotta keep moving forward here and trying to clean up a couple different areas. 

"What's visible to me is that we kept their best players off the scoresheet tonight . We had the puck a lot and we didn't capitalize when we had the opportunities. The biggest thing is getting a win here tomorrow and staying ahead of them in the standings."

The first period set the tone for the type of game we'd see. UND had several Grade A chances early and Matt Kiersted rang one off the post as DU's goalie Filip Larsson was forced to make 19 saves in the first period alone. 

The Pioneers took the lead at the 8:48 mark when Jake Durflinger jammed one home on the doorstep after the puck pinballed around in front. That's where it stood after one period. 

Early in the second, Ryan Barrow made it a two-goal Pioneer lead with his fourth goal of the season on a 3-on-2 break.

UND came out in the third, again, as the aggressor, keeping the puck in their offensive end and generating chances. One came just 51 seconds in when Nick Jones' shot--originally ruled a goal on the ice-- hit the pipe upon review as Denver continued to dodge bullets. 

Collin Adams finally got North Dakota on the board with just over five minutes remaining in the third. He followed up his point shot, flying in from the left after rebound chances from Jordan Kawaguchi and Rhett Gardner before the sophomore finished the mad scramble in front to slice the lead in half, 2-1.

North Dakota finished the game with a 46-27 advantage in shots on goal with 19 SOG in the first period alone. 

Larsson tallied 45 saves in net in the win for DU. 

Adam Scheel stopped 25 shots in the loss to fall to 8-6 this season against ranked teams. 

The squads will conclude their season series Saturday night at Magness with puck dropping at 8:07 p.m. Central. 

Notes: Junior captain Colton Poolman did not travel with the team due to injury and missed his first career game (105 games) ... Newcomer Harrison Feeney was the backup goaltender after illness to Ryan Anderson ... Friday was UND's fourth game reaching at least 40 shots on goal (2-2) ... North Dakota has allowed just one power play goal in the last four games (16-17 on the PK) and it was into an empty net (Jan. 25 vs SCSU) ... Adams led the team with 7 SOG Friday.