Second-ranked Denver rallied from an early 1-0 deficit with three goals in the second period and posted a 6-1 victory over Colorado College Friday night at Magness Arena.
 
The Pioneers (5-1-1, 1-0-0 NCHC) inched closer to retaining the Gold Pan with the victory, while Colorado College (5-2-0, 0-2-0) dropped its second consecutive decision.
 
Evan Werner put the Tigers ahead 1-0 with his team-high fourth goal of the season. Connor Mayer started the play deep in the CC end. He found Gleb Veremyev along the left boards and Veremyev flicked the puck to Werner, who moved to the middle and cleanly beat Denver goalie Freddie Halyk with a wrister from the slot just 6:09 into the contest.
 
The Tigers had a great chance to extend the lead but could not capitalize on a 5-on-3 advantage late in the first period.
 
The Pioneers took over the game in the second period, scoring three times, including a shorthanded goal, and outshooting the Tigers, 23-5.
 
Shai Buium evened the score at the 4:56 mark of the middle frame. Zeev Buium found his older brother in the slot and Shai beat CC goalie Kaidan Mbereko. Tristan Broz gave Denver the lead for good at 7:32 with a blast from the right circle, then Carter King scored with the home team shorthanded at 10:32.
 
Jack Devine notched a pair of goals and Jared Wright added one in the third period for the final margin.
 
Denver finished the game with a 48-20 shot advantage, including a 39-13 margin in the final 40 minutes. Broz and Cale Ashcroft led all players with six shots, while Drew Montgomery paced CC with three. Neither team capitalized on five power-play chances. Mbereko collected a season-high 39 saves, including 20 in the second period, before giving way to backup Henry Wilder for the final 10 minutes.
 
The two teams face off again on Saturday night at Ed Robson Arena, beginning at 6 p.m.