Minnesota Duluth was swept in the home series by No. 1 Denver after a 4-3 overtime decision. The Bulldogs close the weekend with a 8-10 record overall and 4-6 in conference play. Despite the sweep, UMD picked up two conference points as both games went into overtime.
Scoring in tonight's game was
Dominic James,
Tanner Laderoute, and
Luke Mylymok. The Bulldogs to each record one assist included
Quinn Olson,
Jesse Jacques,
Darian Gotz, and
Joey Pierce. Pierce recorded his first career point, and
Dominic James extended his point streak to four games.
In the first period, UMD took their first penalty just 1:24 into the game. The Bulldogs successfully killed that off, but then took another penalty at 7:32. The Pioneers found the back of the net at just 32 seconds into their power play, putting the score at 1-0. The Bulldogs took a third penalty later in the period, and killed that off to keep the one goal deficit. At 19:18 Denver was called with their first penalty for hooking. With seconds left Olson intercepted a Pioneer pass, and flicked it to James. James maneuvered it through the defense and found the back of the net with just six seconds left to tie the game up.
As the second period was at its halfway mark, Gotz made a pass up the ice to Laderoute on the left boards. Laderoute dropped the puck back to Jacques then moved into the slots to position himself. Jacques passed the puck back to Laderoute to bury the puck deep. With the go-ahead goal, the period ended in UMD's favor 2-1. During the second, UMD successfully killed off three of Denver's power plays.
In the third period, UMD held the one goal lead for only a minute and a half, until Denver netted their second goal of the night. Half way through the period the Bulldogs were in the offensive zone and Pierce made a shot from the blue line, Mylymok came around to the right side, picking up the rebound and netting a goal for a 3-2 game. The Pioneers responded back at 15:13, tying the game up once again. The Bulldogs fought till the end of the third, but were taken to overtime again by the Pioneers.
In overtime, the Bulldogs got in two shots on goal, but turned over the puck in the offensive zone. On the turnover Denver skater Aiden Thompson scored the overtime winner, unassisted.
UP NEXT Minnesota Duluth will take a three week break for the holidays then be back at AMSOIL Arena on Dec. 31 for a 2 p.m. exhibition game against St. Thomas.
