DENVER — Seventh-ranked Minnesota Duluth was swept in NCHC play for a second consecutive weekend, losing 1-0 in overtime at No. 11 Denver on Saturday at Magness Arena.
Sophomore goaltender Adam Gajan made 30 saves for the Bulldogs, who have lost four-straight games by a single goal, including two in 3-on-3 overtime.
“It’s four straight for us, obviously it can’t happen,” UMD sophomore wing Max Plante said. “Gajan played his (butt) off tonight. Unbelievable when you don’t score a goal, the other team doesn’t score a goal, and you still lose the hockey game. That’s not good.”
Freshman goalie Johnny Hicks returned from injury to make 19 saves for his first shutout with the Pioneers.
Denver senior wing Rieger Lorenze scored a controversial game-winning goal in OT after Bulldogs sophomore center Zam Plante was picked by Pioneers junior center Kieran Cebrian to set up the score.
The Bulldogs wanted an interference penalty called on the play, but didn’t get one from NCHC officials Nick Krebsbach or Anthony Vikhter.
“Even David Carle said it should have been interference,” Sandelin said, referencing the Pioneers coach.
“It was a pretty grind-it-out game.
It was a lot like last weekend against Western.
It was a Saturday night. Both teams were trading some chances. Not a lot of shots. We blocked more … and it came down to that, and that’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Sandelin didn’t get an explanation for the no-call after the game, but his captain did. Senior defenseman Joey Pierce said he was told by the referees, “They ran into each other.”
“I don’t think it’s a hockey play, but I don’t know,” Pierce said. “Maybe we shouldn’t have let it get to that point in the first place.”
Denver may also have been offside on the game-winning goal. Cebrian appears to be just past the blue line in the Bulldogs zone before Lorenz gets the puck past the blue line and into the offensive zone.
A screenshot from NCHC TV of a play that was potentially offside during an NCHC game on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, between Minnesota Duluth and Denver at Magness Arena in Denver. The Pioneers scored the game winning goal on this zone entry. UMD did not challenge for offside after the goal.
Matt Wellens / Screenshot / Duluth News Tribune
UMD did not challenge the play for offside at the end of the game, as they were busy lobbying for the more obvious interference that was missed.
Scott Sandelin tried to break up his top line Saturday in Denver. Actually, he first made the change in the third period
of Friday’s 4-3 loss to the Pioneers.
The breakup was short lived. By the 10-minute mark of the first period Saturday, Jayson Shaugabay was back on the same line with Zam and Max Plante.
“I got to try something,” said Sandelin, whose team is 1-4 in NCHC play since Christmas. “We’re 1-4. Something’s got to change. We got to try and find something, some balance. We need everyone to give a little bit more.”
Freshman wing Hunter Anderson started the game with Hermantown’s Plante brothers, but things did not appear to be clicking early on for the Bulldogs. Sophomore wing Blake Bechen played with the Plante brothers during the third period of Friday’s game.
Shaugabay began Saturday night with sophomore center Callum Arnott and sophomore wing Harper Bentz. Shaugabay played with Arnott and Anderson during the third period Friday.
Anderson, Arnott and Bentz began playing together midway through the first period, while the third and fourth lines remained the same.
Sandelin said he may break up the top line again at some point this season if they need to. Max Plante said he’s OK if it happens again.
“Just a different look,” Max Plante said of the changes. “We’ve been together all year. Just kind seeing what it looks like against the other team. Anderson is a good player. I don’t really care who I’m playing with. Whatever coach thinks.”
Shaugabay and the Plantes have combined for 110 points in 28 games this year, but have just two goals — both by Shaugabay — and five assists in the last four games. They were shut out this weekend.
While Shaugabay and the Plantes were briefly broken up 5-on-5, they remained together on the power play for that period and a half they were apart.
UMD’s Scout Truman missed Saturday’s game with an upper body injury. He left Friday’s game during the second period and did not return. Freshman wing Luke Bibby took the senior wing’s spot in the lineup Saturday while freshman wing Daniel Shlaine took Truman’s spot on the second power play unit for the second game in a row.
Two other Bulldogs left the game with injuries, but returned. Sophomore defenseman Ty Hanson was run into the wall head first in the second period — only a minor penalty for boarding was called after video review — but he came back that period. Junior defenseman Brady Cleveland also hit his head when he tripped as part of a late-game pile up in the corner. He also returned to the bench and said after the game he was OK.
Gajan made his final start before leaving for the Olympics on Sunday. The Bulldogs starting goaltender isn’t flying home with the team from Denver International Airport. Instead, he’s on his way to Europe to join up with the Slovakian Olympic team
to take part in the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, Italy.
Gajan will miss next weekend’s home series against North Dakota at Amsoil Arena, and possibly the series after the bye weekend at Miami.
Pierce said Gajan was “unbelievable” on Saturday in Denver.
“He gave us a chance,” Pierce said. We couldn’t ask for anything more. He was there every time we had a breakdown, and we definitely had our fair share. We’ll him these next couple weeks, but we’re excited to play in front of Ethan (Dahlmeir) or Cole (Sheffield). I think that will give us a little energy, or another reason to work hard, defend harder and play for those guys, too.”
Hicks was a game-time decision for the Pioneers on Saturday. He was unable to finish his first collegiate start on Friday after going down while making a save on a penalty kill in the third period. Hicks was seen clutching the back of his leg and had to be helped off the ice.
Hicks wasn’t declared the starter until warmups on Saturday. The Pioneers are without starting goaltender Quentin Miller, who is currently week-to-week with a lower body injury.
The Bulldogs return home to host NCHC-leading North Dakota at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 6:07 p.m. Saturday at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. UMD and No. 4 North Dakota split their series in November in Grand Forks, though the Fighting Hawks took four of the six points after UMD needed overtime to win Friday’s game.
“I guess we’re going to have to have a good week, because North Dakota is no worse than any team in this league,” Max Plante said.
Minnesota Duluth 0-0-0-0—0
Denver 0-0-0-1—1
First period
No scoring
Second period
No scoring
Third period
No scoring
Overtime
1. DU, Rieger Lorenz (Eric Pohlkamp, Kieran Cebrian), 2:17
Saves — Adam Gajan, UMD, 30; Johnny Hicks, DU, 19.
Power play — UMD 0-2; DU 0-1. Penalties — UMD 1-2; DU 2-4.