LetsGoDU

Helgason Leads DU To Victory

The University of Denver Pioneers evened their best 2-of-3 first-round WCHA Playoff Series with Minnesota Duluth after defeating the Bulldogs 3-2 tonight in front of 5,657 fans at Magness Arena. Junior right wing Ryan Helgason scored the game-winning goal with 4:29 remaining to break a 2-2 tie for the Pioneers, who saw UMD erase their 2-0 second-period lead.
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It appeared that the Pioneers would head to overtime for a school-record fourth consecutive time when UMD deflected a shot into the net with 6.8 seconds left in the third period. However, the goal was reviewed and overtuned because Tim Stapleton's deflection was made with a high stick.

Pioneers sophomore left wing Ryan Dingle scored two goals, marking his seventh game this season with two or more scores. DU sophomore goaltender Peter Mannino improved to 6-0-0 in the postseason for his career after stopping 29 shots.

Pioneers junior defenseman Matt Carle set a DU single-season record for assists by a defenseman with his 41st of the year on a first-period goal. The Hobey Baker Award candidate also assisted on another DU score to finish with two points while junior right wing J.D. Corbin (Littleton, Colo.) also added two assists.The Pioneers, who were 0-for-3 on the power play, generated 30 shots with Minnesota Duluth goaltender Nate Ziegelmann finishing the game with 27 saves. The Bulldogs were 1-for-5 on the power play and totaled 31 shots.

"I think we had a much better attitude coming into this game tonight, and we knew we had to play hard and with intensity," DU Head Coach George Gwozdecky said. "Mannino came up with some big saves when we needed them, and that was a positive for us."