DENVER, Colo. – The Lindenwood men's hockey team (3-7-1) lost their first of two games at No. 3 Denver (8-2-1, 4-0-0 NCHC) on Friday night. Chances were virtually even in the game, but special teams continued to be an Achille's heal for the Lions, with Lindenwood going 0-3 on the power play while Denver went 1-1 and added a shorthanded goal.
Shots on goal were even in the opening period with both teams recording 11 attempts on target, but the Pioneers took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission thanks to a goal from the slot by Blake Fiddler at the 12:08 mark.
A Lindenwood cross checking penalty with 10 second remaining in the first period put Denver on the power play to begin the second frame, and the Pioneers made the Lions pay with a Kyle Chyzowski conversion at 19:25 to make the score 2-0.
The Lions responded at the 8:03 mark with
Ethan Zielke taking a pass from
Tyler Loughman near the blue line and carrying the puck into the left faceoff circle before snapping a wrister into the net to put Lindenwood in the scoring column.
The Lions then made it two unanswered goals 60 seconds later, as
Caden Brown took advantage of a turnover in the Denver defensive zone that left him all alone with the DU goalie, following his own shot to equalize with a back hander from just outside the crease.
However, the Pioneers regained the advantage shortly after with Brady Milburn touching twine to make the score 3-2. The difference remained one until midway through the third period, when Denver's Daxon Rudoph scored from a tight angle to push the Pio's lead back to a pair.
The Lions went on the power play with a little under four minutes remaining but were unable to convert on the opportunity, instead allowing their third shorthanded goal of the season as Jake Fisher scored on a breakaway to expand Denver's lead.
The two teams traded goals in the game's final minute, with
Jake Delaney scoring for the Lions on an assist from
Tyler Loughman – his second of the night – before the Pioneers answered with an empty net goal to make the final score 6-3.
Quotable
"It was a good hockey game. We did a lot of things really well, but they made a good push in the third. We have a lot to build on for tomorrow." –
Keith Fisher, Lindenwood Head Coach
Next Up
Game two against the Pioneers is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT on Saturday.
