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Since AMSOIL Arena opened its doors for business in 2010, no visiting team has enjoyed more success at that downtown Duluth facility than the University of Denver.

The top-ranked Pioneers improved their all-time AMSOIL Arena record to 6-1-2 Friday night by clipping the No. 16 Bulldogs 1-0 in the front end of a two-game National Collegiate Hockey Conference series. The two clubs, who last faced off in NCAA Frozen Four title game eight months ago, each got superb goaltending efforts as UMD sophomore Hunter Shepard (25 saves) and Denver's Tanner Jailett (28) combined to stop 53 of 54 shots.

Logan O'Conner scored the lone goal of the evening 2:51 into the second period when he batted in a shot from the low slot that fluttered over the right shoulder of Shepard,  who was making his 11th consecutive start (and first-ever against the Pioneers).

Both the Bulldogs (7-7-0 overall; 2-5-0-0 NCHC) and Pioneers (8-3-2; 4-3-0) went 0-for-3 on the power play.

"I thought a couple of our lines has some good shifts," said UMD head coach Scott Sandelin. "They were able to work the puck down low, but we've got to get better body position. You've got to have the determination to get there and you have to win the battles against any team -- especially this team. You have to fight for position in front of the net and then bear down."

Saturday night's rematch is set for 7:07 p.m. at AMSOIL Arena.