DENVER, Colo. ? Denver's Jesse Martin scored the game-winner at 13:03 of the third period to lift the No. 5 nationally-ranked Pioneers to a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Alaska Anchorage in the opener of their WCHA first-round playoff series Friday night at Magness Arena. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Seawolves, now 14-16-5 on the season. DU improved to 21-10-5 overall.
After a scoreless first period in the battle of the WCHA's No. 2-seeded Pioneers and No. 9-seeded Seawolves, UAA sophomore defenseman Luka Vidmar tallied his first goal of the season at 3:52 of the second period to put the Seawolves up 1-0 on an unassisted tally.
Less than two minutes later at 5:45 of the second, the Seawolves' Kevin Clark continued his scoring tear of late when he took a pass from Paul Crowder and beat DU netminder Marc Cheverie to make it 2-0. The goal was the 12th of the season and fifth in three games for the junior winger.
DU's first line centerman Tyler Ruegsegger got the Pioneers on the board at 15:35 of the second on a power play tally and then tied things at 2-all when he scored an even strength goal at 17:33 of the period. That set up Martin's third-period heroics for the Pioneers.
DU owned a 31-21 shots on goal advantage for the night. The Pioneers' Cheverie, who has started all 36 games on the season for DU, was credited with 19 saves in picking up the win in goal. UAA junior goaltender was credited with 28 saves and is now 6-9-1 on the season.
UAA went 0-for-2 on the power play while DU was 1-for-6.
Game 2 of the best-of-three series is slated for 5 p.m. ADT Saturday at DU's Magness Arena. Game 3, if necessary, will be at 5 p.m. Sunday. The winner of the series will advance to next week's WCHA Final Five tournament in Saint Paul.
