COLUMBUS, OHIO ? Denver made sure the biggest celebration was the last one.

Freshman Paul Stastny scored two goals, and Peter Mannino made them stand up with a flawless performance in goal to help Denver defend its national hockey title with a 4-1 victory over North Dakota on Saturday.

After coach George Gwozdecky won his 400th game the last time Denver beat North Dakota, last month in the conference semifinals, he stopped the celebration to address his team.

“I told them, ‘Thank you very much. But it sure would be a lot sweeter to celebrate after No. 405,”‘ Gwozdecky said.

It was the seventh national title for Denver (32-9-2), which was ranked No. 1 for most of the season.

Stastny, the son of Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, also had an assist on Gabe Gauthier’s empty-netter. Jeff Drummond scored the Pioneers’ first goal, Kevin Ulanski had two assists, and Gauthier had an assist to go with his 26th goal of the year.

Mannino, who was selected the most outstanding player of the Frozen Four, had a career-high 44 saves two nights after stopping 41 shots in a 6-2 victory over Colorado College in the semifinals.

“My team allowed me to see the puck,” Mannino said. “When there were rebounds, they cleaned them right away. I just wanted to keep them (the Fighting Sioux) off the board, and it worked out.”

With the score tied 1-1 midway through the second period, Denver scored on a power play. The Pioneers had six power-play goals in their victory in the semis after scoring on just three of their 45 power-play chances leading into the Frozen Four.

Ulanski’s hard slap shot from the top of the right circle sliced through heavy traffic in the slot and appeared to glance off Stastny’s stick. Stastny redirected it high over the right shoulder of goaltender Jordan Parise, who could do nothing but watch the puck settle into the net.