Mavericks Drop Pioneers 5-2 To End Streak

Sunday, January 24

Omaha, Neb.

6:07 p.m.

Omaha

9-4-1, 9-4-1-2-0 (1)

Denver

6-9-1, 6-9-1-0-1 (1)

Team	1	2	3	F
Denver	0	1	1	2
Omaha	1	1	3	5

Tyler Weiss jumps into the arms of Taylor Ward following Ward's first of two goals against Denver. The Mavericks won 5-2 to snap a 19-game winless streak against the Pioneers.

Mavericks Drop Pioneers 5-2 To End Streak

Jan 24, 2021 | Hockey

Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. – Taylor Ward scored two goals, and Isaiah Saville made 42 saves to lead the No. 11 Omaha hockey team to a 5-2 win over No. 15 Denver, snapping a 19-game winless streak against the Pioneers.

Kevin Conley had a goal and an assist, and Brandon Scanlin had two assists to help the Mavericks avenge a 4-1 loss to DU the previous night. Omaha improved to 9-4-1 overall and 9-4-1-2-0 (1) in the NCHC, keeping them tied with Minnesota Duluth for third.

The Pioneers fell to 6-9-1 overall and 6-9-1-0-1 (1) in the conference, good for fifth.

Inside the First Period
The Mavericks opened the scoring late in the period. Conley sent a long pass up the middle of the ice, springing Jimmy Glynn on a breakaway. Glynn flicked the puck over the glove hand of goalie Corbin Kaczperski for his first career goal at 17:19.

Inside the Second Period
Denver tied the game at 10:20 when Slava Demin got free in the slot and beat Saville with a wrist shot.

But the Mavericks retook the lead on a power play. Tyler Weiss threw the puck to the front of the net where Ward tipped it home for his sixth of the year at 14:39.

Inside the Third Period
The Mavericks stretched their lead on a power play early in the third. Kevin Conley fired home a feed from Brandon Scanlin at 4:25.

Denver trimmed the lead back to one less than two minutes later when Hank Crone knocked in a loose puck in the crease at 5:59.

But 36 seconds after Crone's goal, Ward picked up his second, slipping the puck between Kaczperski and the post after a faceoff win from Primeau for his team-leading seventh of the year.

Matt Miller added an empty netter at 19:26 for the final margin.

Saville was the busier of the two goalies, making a season high 42 saves. Kaczperski stopped 24 for the Pioneers.

The Mavericks' home stand continues next weekend when they host North Dakota on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29-30.

GAME NOTES:

The Mavericks had gone 0-16-3 against the Pioneers before the win.
Omaha's last win over DU before tonight was Jan. 10, 2015, a 1-0 win at home.
Sunday's win also was UNO's first against DU at Baxter Arena (1-6-3).
Nate Knoepke blocked seven shots in the game, upping his team-leading total to 35.
The Mavericks killed both Denver power plays in the game and went 7-for-7 in the series. They now have killed off 44 straight penalties and lead the NCHC at 94 percent.
Omaha went 2-for-4 on the power play against DU and was 3-for-9 in the series.
The Mavericks outdueled Denver in the faceoff circle, 42-18, a 70 percent success rate.