Box Score Highlights

Three Denver players scored and Tanner Jaillet made 20 saves to lead the second-ranked Pioneers to a 3-1 victory over Colorado College Friday night at The Broadmoor World Arena.
 
Denver inched closer to retaining The Gold Pan, the traveling trophy that goes to the regular-season series winner between the two rivals. If the teams split the series, then the current owner retains it. The Pioneers, who improved to 10-2-3 overall and 4-0-3-2 in the NCHC, have held it the last two seasons.
 
After a well-played, physical first period, the Pioneers struck first at the 7:26 mark of the second period. Troy Terry took a pass from Will Butcher and fired a shot from the right circle that snuck inside the far post behind CC goalie Alex Leclerc.
 
Jarid Lukosevicious scored the eventual game-winner at the 10:46 mark of the middle frame with a backhander from the bottom of the left circle that snuck between Leclerc's arm and body to make it 2-0. Dylan Gambrell and Butcher each recorded an assist on the play.
 
The Tigers (3-10-0, 1-4-0-0) fought back as senior captain Sam Rothstein cut the lead in half just 1:30 later. He buried a one-timer from the slot after receiving a centering pass from freshman Nick Halloran. Sophomore Mason Bergh started the play and earned his team-high ninth point of the season.
 
It looked as though Denver pushed the lead back to two but Gambrell's wraparound that eventually ended in the net was ruled no good after a lengthy review by the officials with 3:29 left in the second.
 
The Pioneers did make it 3-1 lead at the 6:22 mark of the third period when Tariq Hammond scored off a rebound after Evan Ritt's shot was kicked out by Leclerc.
 
"We played a really good game tonight," head coach Mike Haviland said. "We competed and battled but made some mistakes that they capitalized on. If we continue to play like that, we will win some games. We need to do it again tomorrow night."
 
Leclerc finished the game with 23 saves, including some spectacular stops in the first period to keep the game scoreless. Neither team scored on the power play as CC had four opportunities compared to Denver's three.          
 
Lukosevicious led the Pioneers with five shots and freshman Alex Berardinelli tied his career-high with five to lead the Tigers.
 
The two teams will face each other Saturday night at Magness Arena in Denver beginning at 7 p.m.