Not long ago, the proud University of Denver hockey team was embarrassed about its last-place showing in the Denver Cup tournament and humbled to be well out of the NCAA Tournament picture.
Today, the Pioneers lead the toughest conference in college hockey and are in decent shape to make a run at a third consecutive national championship.
DU won its seventh straight game Saturday night, defeating Minnesota State 5-1 to sweep the two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series.
The four weekend points before Magness Arena sellout crowds of more than 6,100 pushed the Pioneers past Wisconsin and Minnesota for the WCHA lead. The Golden Gophers are a point back and the Badgers two with six games remaining.
“In retrospect, the poor performances in the Denver Cup and then shortly there- after, the national PairWise Rankings coming out. … I think those things caught our attention,” said DU coach George Gwoz- decky, whose team stood 14th in the PairWise late Saturday. “I think we’re starting to get interested again. I don’t mean to be flippant about that, but there’s no question that as you look at our team now, and how we are playing and performing, we’re doing it the best that we have all season.”
Denver (18-10-2, 15-5-2 WCHA), which led 3-0 after the first period Saturday and 4-1 after two, begins a two-game series at top- ranked Minnesota on Friday. The Pioneers, who are on an eight-game road winning streak – one shy of the school record – then host 2005 NCAA runner-up North Dakota twice before concluding the season with a home-and-home set against Front Range rival Colorado College.
DU’s home and road streaks “shows how well we’re playing, doing the little things like blocking shots and chipping the puck out,” said co-captain Gabe Gauthier, who had a goal and an assist in both games. “We’re also staying composed, not taking stupid penalties. When we stay 5-on-5 or the power play, we’re putting ourselves in good position to win.”
Freshman Patrick Mullen, playing right wing on a line with Gauthier and center Paul Stastny, led DU with two goals Saturday. Stastny matched Gauthier and third- line wing Ryan Dingle with a goal and an assist.
The Mavericks, who lost 7-4 on Friday, lost every member of their all-senior line. Rob Rankin was ejected in the first period for checking from behind. Winger Ryan McKelvie broke his leg at the first-period buzzer. And Brock Becker was disqualified in the third for cross checking.
A fourth Mavericks player, defenseman Chad Brownlee, was ejected midway through the third for checking from behind.
DU finished 3-of-7 on the power play for the game and 8-of-16 for the series.
DENVER POST THREE STARS
1. Patrick Mullen. Freshman wing had two goals to give him six on the season.
2. Gabe Gauthier. Senior co-captain had DU’s first goal, and he added an assist.
3. Paul Stastny. Sophomore had a goal and an assist to give him six points for the weekend and 85 in 72 career games.
WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
In DU’s past five games, Stastny and sophomore wing Ryan Dingle have combined for 10 goals and 17 points. Both have five goals in that stretch.
Minnesota State 0 1 0 – 1
Denver 3 1 1 – 5
First period – 1, DU, Gauthier 12 (Butler, Dingle), 1:39 (pp). 2, DU, Stastny 11 (Carle), 5:59. 3, DU, Dingle 19 (Stastny, Butler), 14:20 (pp). Penalties – Wagner, MSU (checking from behind), :59; Carle, DU (interference), 2:04; Rankin, MSU (5-major, checking from behind, game misconduct), 9:50; Mullen, DU (slashing), 14:45.
Second period – 4, DU, Mullen 5 (Gauthier), 1:00. 5, MSU, Sutter 7 (unassisted), 3:30. Penalties – Becker, MSU (cross checking), 5:01; Paukovich, DU (interference), 9:05; Peto, MSU (interference), 13:59; Brownlee, MSU (slashing), 14:56; Stastny, DU (roughing), 17:18.
Third period – 6, DU, Mullen 6 (Veideman, Paukovich), 6:08 (pp). Penalties – Becker, MSU (5-major, cross checking, game DQ), 4:36; Brownlee, MSU (5-major, checking from behind, game misconduct), 9:37.
Shots – MSU 5-9-6 – 20. DU 10-9-11 – 30. Power plays – MSU 0 of 6. DU 3 of 7. Goalies – MSU, Tormey (11-11-4) 30 shots-25 saves. DU, Mannino (10-5) 20-19. A – 6,138.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
