The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs won 6-5 against the No. 3 Denver Pioneers in the series finale. After splitting the series, UMD picked up three conference points. The Bulldogs have now improved to a 13-16-1 overall record and a 8-12-0 conference record. 

In tonight's game ten different Bulldogs earned at least a point. Wyatt Kaiser recorded four points with one goal and three assists. Ben Steeves notched two goals, while Darian Gotz, Quinn Olson, and Luke Johnson all tagged one goal. Johnson's goal tonight marked his first collegiate goal. Isaac Howard and Luke Loheit each recorded two assists. The Bulldogs to each tally one assist were Jack Smith, Dominic James, Joey Pierce, and Aiden Dubinsky. 

The Bulldogs came out of the gates quick in period one. At 17:47 Kaiser, Howard and Gotz exchanged a couple passes on the offensive blueline. Gotz ripped a shot from the top of the right face-off circle and got the 'Dogs an early lead. With 5:39 left in the first period UMD was called for a five minute major boarding penalty. Only 24 seconds into the penalty kill, the Pioneers tied the game up. At the latter end of the period, UMD drew a tripping penalty to go on another power play. With 14 seconds left on the clock Kaiser fired a shot on goal. Olson, at the top of the crease, picked up the rebound and netted a power play goal to close out the period 2-1. 

At the start of the second period, Denver evened the score 2-2. The Bulldogs wasted no time responding back. At 17:31 Howard connected a pass from the right boards to Johnson. Johnson fired a shot to the top shelf to take the lead back 3-2. UMD would then go back on the penalty kill for another five minute major penalty. The Bulldogs showed a strong effort and successfully killed off the penalty. At 2:41 Pierce passed the puck from the right side of the ice to Steeves who was alone at the back door and flicked in the teams fourth goal. Shortly after UMD went back on the power play with 2:02 left in the period. During the power play, Kaiser made a shot through traffic and scored. With three unanswered goals, the Bulldogs finished the second period with a 5-2 lead. 

UMD entered the third period on a penalty kill, which Denver would eventually score on to put the game at 5-3. 50 seconds later, the Pioneers found the back of the net once again and closed the gap 5-4. After making it a one-goal game, the Pioneers were called for tripping and  gave UMD another power play. The power play was short lived after Steeves scored a goal from the top of the right face-off circle. Denver responded back with a goal at 11:38, making it a 6-5 game. The Bulldogs were called for hooking at 6:56, but were successful in killing off the penalty and held their one goal lead. With 2:07 left the Pioneers pulled their goal for six-on-five play. After a strong effort in the closing minutes, UMD kept them from scoring and secured the win. 

UP NEXT Minnesota Duluth will face-off with Miami next weekend Feb. 24-25 for their final home series of the season.