DENVER-- Host Denver didn't record a shot on goal until more than 16 minutes into the game, but its third found the back of the net against North Dakota and the Pios' goaltender made it stand up in a 2-0 NCHC quarterfinal win Friday night at Magness Arena. Freshman Filip Larsson continued to sparkle against UND, stopping all 32 shots he faced and upping his save percentage to .979 against the Fighting Hawks this season.
Tyson McLellan's goal with 59 seconds left in the first period and Denver was able to keep UND off the board to gain a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-three series.
"It's reminiscent of a few times this year where we get snakebit, control the play but don't put one in the net," UND head coach
Brad Berry said. "I thought we had some chances-- we had enough chances to score and to win the game, but we didn't bury the puck and that's the bottom line. We've got to come back tomorrow, you've got to win two games and we've got to come back tomorrow- and we will-- but the guys have to be a little bit sharper with the puck."
Griffin Mendel scored his first goal of the season midway through the final period to add an insurance marker.
"I thought we were pretty good as far as closing the house and limiting their opportunities. They get a guy with his second goal of the year and then another with his first, but we shut out their top players and that's what happens. Our guys feel it right now but we're going to make sure that doesn't happen tomorrow."
North Dakota outshot the Pioneers, 32-17, for the game.
The teams continue the series Saturday evening with the puck dropping at 8:07 p.m. Central.
NOTES:
*Larsson has stopped 140 of 143 shots faced (.979) in four games against North Dakota this season.
*
Gabe Bast led UND with six shots on goal Friday.
*North Dakota faces a must-win situation Saturday to extend its season and send the series to a deciding third game.
*
Peter Thome stopped 15 of 17 shots faced.
*UND is now 10-2 in NCHC Quarterfinal games since the league formed in 2013-14.
*The winner of this series will extend a streak of consecutive years advancing to the semifinals in all six years of the conference.
