DENVER — The No. 17 University of North Dakota (UND) and the No. 6 University of Denver are set to kick off their two-game series at Magness Arena.

Game Time: 8:06 PM Central Time / 7:06 PM Local Time
Location: Magness Arena, Denver
Broadcast: CBS Sports (GF Channel 314/635 HD)
Radio Broadcast: The Fox (96.1 FM)
Live Stream: NCHChockey.com

Score Update: No goals scored yet.

Denver 1, UND 0 — Kieran Cebrian scored his fourth goal of the season at 14:21 with assists from Eric Pohlkamp and Boston Buckberger. Pohlkamp’s shot from the point went wide, but a bounce off the end boards allowed Cebrian to capitalize on an opportunity that UND goalie T.J. Semptimphelter could not cover in time.

Denver 2, UND 0 — Boston Buckberger netted his sixth goal at 17:04, assisted by Sam Harris. Though Harris was checked by UND defenseman E.J. Emery during a rush, he managed to pass the puck to Buckberger, who fired a shot through traffic, finding the back of the net.

Denver 3, UND 0 — Jack Devine scored his seventh goal at 8:24, with help from Aidan Thompson and Buckberger. The Pioneers extended their lead when Thompson found an open Devine in the slot, who made a quick shot past Semptimphelter.

UND Forward Lineup:
26 Dylan James—14 Cameron Berg—21 Ben Strinden
7 Mac Swanson—9 Sacha Boisvert—15 Carter Wilkie
8 Jake Schmaltz—22 Owen McLaughlin—27 Louis Jamernik V
19 Cody Croal—20 Cade Littler—28 Dalton Andrew

UND Defensive Lineup:
13 Caleb MacDonald—4 Jake Livanavage
16 Andrew Strathmann—25 Abram Wiebe
3 Jayden Jubenvill—6 E.J. Emery
5 Dane Montgomery

Goalkeepers:
35 T.J. Semptimphelter
30 Hobie Hedquist

Unavailable Players: F Jackson Kunz (ill), F Jayden Perron (inj), D Bennett Zmolek (inj), G Kaleb Johnson (inj), D Tanner Komzak, G Aleksi Huson

Denver Forward Lineup:
7 Aidan Thompson—15 Carter King—4 Jack Devine
12 Sam Harris—11 Samu Salminen—27 James Reeder
14 Rieger Lorenz—24 Kieran Cebrian—18 Jared Wright
19 Jake Fisher—22 Connor Caponi—13 Hagen Burrows

Denver Defensive Lineup:
28 Zeev Buium—21 Kent Anderson
9 Boston Buckberger—23 Eric Pohlkamp
3 Cale Ashcroft—5 Garrett Brown
2 Tory Pitner

Denver Goalkeepers:
35 Matt Davis
1 Freddie Halyk

Unavailable Players: G Paxton Geisel (inj), F Peter LaJoy, D Alec Whipple

Officials: Referees Nathan Wieler and Stephen Reneau, Linesmen Lucas Bisbee and Erik Contino, Supervisor Todd Anderson

UND forward Jackson Kunz arrived at Magness Arena on Friday night but was unable to play due to illness, leading to his late scratch from the lineup. Ben Strinden has stepped up to fill his position on the first line alongside Dylan James and Cameron Berg, while Dalton Andrew has joined the fourth line. Dane Montgomery returns as the extra skater. This is their second encounter of the season, with Denver having previously won both matches in Grand Forks with scores of 5-2 and 3-2. The matchup features goalies T.J. Semptimphelter against Matt Davis, and UND is sporting its green jerseys.

Brad Elliott Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been honored as the top beat writer in the Herald’s circulation division by the Associated Press Sports Editors four times and named North Dakota Sportswriter of the Year twice. Brad resides in Grand Forks and can be reached via email at bschlossman@gfherald.com.