MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Jason Zucker scored the game-winning goal in the third period and Denver held on to first place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with a 2-1 win over Minnesota on Friday.

Freshman goalie Sam Brittain made 36 saves for the third-ranked Pioneers, who are alone in first place after Minnesota Duluth's 8-2 loss to St. Cloud State.

Zucker scored a 4:01 of the third period to break a 1-1 tie.

Drew Shore scored on the power play for the Pioneers (18-6-5, 14-4-3) midway through the second period to tie it at 1-1.

Shore's goal came less than three minutes after Erik Haula broke a scoreless tie with a goal at 10:02.

Minnesota (11-12-4, 8-10-3) outshot Denver 17-9 in the second period. But freshman goalie Sam Brittain gave up just the one goal.

He had 11 saves in the third period.

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