Scoring the game’s first two goals wasn’t a recipe for success throughout the Denver-Minnesota weekend series.
In Saturday’s finale of the two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association set, the Pioneers lost 4-3, blowing leads of 2-0 and 3-2 before the 25th consecutive sellout crowd at Magness Arena.
The teams that have combined to win the past four NCAA championships played to a 3-3 draw in Friday’s opener after Minnesota, the 2002 and 2003 national champions, jumped to a 2-0 lead.
Gophers forward Kris Chucko was the difference in the series. In Game 2, the sophomore scored his first two goals of the season at 6:22 and 10:36 of the third period.
His game-tying goal, a wrist shot from the right circle, occurred during a DU power play. His game-winning wrist shot beat goalie Peter Mannino from the left circle at even strength.
“Frustrating game, back and forth between two skilled teams, and it was a tough weekend for us because they got one more goal Saturday,” said Mannino, the 2004 Frozen Four MVP who fell to 3-3 in his sophomore season and 21-7-1 for his career.
DU’s loss was just its fourth during its sellout streak that featured a season-high 6,177 fans Saturday.
The two-time defending champions fell to 5-5-2, 3-3-1 in the WCHA, and take a four-game winless skid (0-2-2) into the weekend’s nonleague games at Boston University and Massachusetts.
DU coach George Gwozdecky partly blamed Minnesota’s third-period rally to his team’s inexperience on defense. Three freshmen, one fewer than most previous games, were among the six-man corps against Minnesota. Junior Adrian Veideman switched to defense Friday in what likely is a permanent move.
“There are so many different bodies in these jerseys from what we had last year; it’s a work in progress developing that chemistry and that confidence and know-how,” Gwozdecky said.
“On the goals Minnesota did score, a number of our freshman defensemen were out there. I’m not putting them at fault, but at same point at time, those are things you have to grin and bear. There is no other way to develop inexperienced players.”
The Pioneers played well at the outset, posting eight of the game’s first nine shots and getting goals from forwards Gabe Gauthier (power play) and Ryan Helgason.
But similar to how DU dominated the first period, Minnesota (6-3-3, 6-2-2 WCHA) owned the second. The Gophers got a power-play goal from defenseman Alex Goligoski early in the period and forward Mike Howe struck late at even strength.
Denver regained control 59 seconds into the third period, when Paul Stastny cashed in on a rebound beside Minnesota freshman goalie Jeff Frazee (3-0-1).
At that point, history didn’t look good for Minnesota, which went 2-7-1 in its previous 10 games at Magness Arena.
“This is a difficult building to come in and play and it hasn’t been kind for us,” Minnesota coach Don Lucia said. “Tonight was going to determine whether it was good weekend or a bad weekend after the tie (Friday). Both teams competed hard. It was a hard-fought series. Fortunately we made a couple plays in the third period to win the game.”
Gauthier said the Pioneers deserved better but won’t let the one-point weekend linger too long.
“We put in the effort and played great hockey,” he said. “It just didn’t go our way, but we can’t look at it like a (tough) loss. No matter our record, as long as we put in a strong effort, that’s all that matters at this point.”
Denver Post’s three stars
1. Kris Chucko. Scored the game-tying and game-winning goals.
2. Gabe Gauthier. DU co-captain had a goal and an assist.
3. Alex Goligoski. Defenseman scored Minnesota’s first goal and added an assist.
What you might have missed
DU goalie Peter Mannino took exception to Gophers goalie Jeff Frazee tossing the puck the length of the ice after allowing a DU goal. Following the Pioneers’ third tally, Mannino and Frazee traded “shots” until the officials intervened.
Next up
Friday, at Boston University.
Minnesota 0 2 2 – 4
Denver 2 0 1 – 3
First period – 1, Denver, Gauthier 4 (Dingle), 6:13 (pp). 2, Helgason 4 (Carle, Handza), 12:38. Penalties – Howe, UM (tripping), :59; Harrington, UM (cross checking), 4:35; Handza, DU (high sticking), 13:36.
Second period – 3, Minnesota, Goligoski 2 (Harrington, Potulny), 3:45 (pp). 4, Minnesota, Howe 5 (Gordon, Vanelli), 16:26. Penalties – Thomas, DU (high sticking), 3:36; Stastny, DU (elbowing), 5:09; Chucko, UM (holding), 5:50; Sertich, UM (interference), 11:16; Handza, DU (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:16; Paukovich, DU (hooking), 14:04.
Third period – 5, Denver, Stastny 4 (Dingle, Gauthier), :59. 6, Minnesota, Chucko 1 (Goligoski), 6:22 (sh). 7, Minnesota, Chucko 2 (Sertich, Harrington), 10:36. Penalties – Anderson, UM (high sticking), 4:55; Kaufmann, UM (roughing), 5:11; Dingle, DU (roughing), 5:11; UM bench (too many men), 6:13.
Shots – Minnesota 9-9-8-26. DU 13-7-9-29. Power plays – Minnesota 1 of 4. DU 1 of 5. Goalies – Minnesota, Frazee (3-0-1) 29 shots-26 saves. DU, Mannino (3-3) 26-22. A – 6,177.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
