The No. 8 Denver Pioneers (3-2-2) played to a 3-3 overtime tie with the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (4-3-2) on Friday night. The Bulldogs took over for the final half of the game, scoring the last two goals.
The Pioneers built up a 2-0 lead into the 14th minute of the game, Jarod Mermis picked up his second goal of the season when he scored at 1:04 into the first frame. Joey LaLeggia and Nick Shore picked up assists on the play. Chris Knowlton, back from suspension, scored his first goal of the season at 13:27 in the period. Nick Shore had his second assists of the night on the play.
Scott Kishel, though, had his first goal of the season for the Bulldogs at 18:18 in the first period. Daniel Doremus extended the Pioneers' lead to 3-1,at 3:33 in the second period, but the Bulldogs answered back with four minutes left in the frame when Travis Oleksuk came up with his seventh goal of the season. Team leader Jack Connolly assisted on the power play goal.
The Pioneers held a 3-2 advantage when they entered the third period. Denver ran into several penalties and they killed off the first two. The third, though, was not as successful. David Makowski went to the box at 14:58 for tripping. Brady Lamb took advantage on the power play and put the puck beyond Adam Murray for the game-tying goal. Connolly had his second assist of the game on the goal.
Neither team was able to break through in overtime, ending the game in a 3-3 tie.
Adam Murray made 43 saves on 46 shots for the Pioneers while Kenny Reiter allowed three goals on 33 shots.
The teams will finish the weekend series on Saturday at 7:07 p.m. MT