Minneapolis – Ryan Potulny had two goals as Minnesota won 3-2 on Friday, snapping Denver’s seven-game winning streak.
With the victory, the Gophers moved ahead of Denver into first place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with five games to play.
Potulny gave Minnesota (20-6-5, 15-5-3 WCHA) a 2-1 lead in the second period and scored a power-play goal in the third for the game-winner. Ryan Dingle and Patrick Mullen scored for the Pioneers (18-11-2, 15-6-2), who had not lost in more than a month.
Dingle’s goal, his team-leading 20th of the season, came on a second period power play, but the Pioneers failed to score on five-minute power plays in the first and third periods.
Minnesota, which is unbeaten in its last seven games (6-0-1) got a 22-save performance from starting goaltender Kellen Briggs.
Denver goalie Glenn Fisher had 30 saves in the loss.
