MacGregor Sharp scored a goal 1:25 into overtime Friday to lift Minnesota-Duluth to a 3-2 victory over Denver in the opening round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs at Magness Arena.
The second-seeded Pioneers (20-14-3) are in danger of getting swept out of the best-of-three series against a team that entered the postseason with losses in 14 of its previous 15 games.
Paul Stastny gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal just 1:25 into the game, but two goals by Bulldogs freshman Andrew Carroll gave Minnesota- Duluth a 2-1 lead early in the third.
Stastny evened the score with another power-play goal at 4:02 of the third, but the Pioneers were unable to score during a five-minute power play, leaving the door open for the Bulldogs (10-23-4).
Denver outshot Minnesota- Duluth 12-2 in the first period and 29-16 overall. But the Pioneers were consistently turned away by sophomore goaltender Nate Ziegelmann, who posted 27 saves in just the fourth start of his career.
Carroll finished with three points, notching an assist on Sharp’s game-winner.
“Duluth played a very smart road game,” Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky said. “They got better as the game went on. I thought their goaltending was outstanding.”
