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Denver Routs North Dakota 5-1

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For the second straight game, two quick goals late in the first period doomed North Dakota at the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Frozen Four.

Denver scored twice to erase a 1-0 deficit late in the first period of the third-place game and beat top-ranked North Dakota 5-1 Saturday to end UND's 71-game streak without back-to-back losses.

UND will still get a regional bid, but it will go into the region tournament on a losing streak for the first time since Nov. 16-17, 2013.

Josiah Didier and Quentin Shore scored 2:43 apart starting at 15:07 of the first period, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead.

The Pioneers didn't waste time, pumping 20 shots on UND goalie Zane McIntyre in the first period. McIntyre finished the night with 30 saves as Denver outshot North Dakota 35-26.

North Dakota was outscored 8-2 in the Frozen Faceoff.

"It's starting to be a little bit frustrating. You can't lose games this time of year," North Dakota's Stephane Pattyn said. "From here on in our season is on the line and this is unacceptable."

Connor Gaarder's ninth goal of the season gave North Dakota (27-9-3) a 1-0 lead at 14:34 of the first period. Gaarder came down the slot and one timed a pass from Brendan O'Donnell past Denver goalie Tanner Jaillet.

The lead lasted all of 33 seconds before the Pioneers (23-13-2) answered. Josiah Didier snapped up a Ty Loney rebound that bounced back to the point and rifled it past McIntyre at 15:07.

The Pioneers weren't done either. At 17:50, Quentin Shore scored again to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead and leave UND looking at a similar deficit as it faced in Friday's 3-1 loss to St. Cloud State.

"We had a lot of really good chances and we couldn't put them away," Pattyn said.

Denver's Matt Tabrum scored at 10:27 of the second period to give the Pioneers a two-goal cushion and Nick Neville's goal early in the third put the game away for good. Tabrum had a goal and an assist.

Denver's Emil Ronig closed out the scoring at 17:50 of the third period.

"We go to work on Monday and get back on track and get ready for the national tournament," Pattyn said. "Our success came when we were having fun. We just have to relax."

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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