Looking ahead to Colorado College wasn’t hard. Never has been. Never might be.
After sweeping its two-game nonleague weekend at Magness Arena, capped by Saturday night’s 6-2 victory over Robert Morris, the University of Denver Pioneers were ready to talk rivalry.
DU coach George Gwozdecky, usually tight-lipped when it comes to looking ahead, suggested his players would walk into the World Arena in Colorado Springs on Friday still in search of their identity.
“CC week is always special,” Gwozdecky said in a serious tone. “It’s the best series in the regular season to play in, playing against your archrival. They’re playing well, and we’re keeping our head above water.”
DU fans know better. Everything Gwozdecky said was correct except the “above water” part. Fact is, the young Pioneers (9-4-1) have found their groove, and will bring a seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1) in Friday’s showdown.
The streak, which began Oct. 28 at Minnesota-Duluth and continued with a two- game sweep at defending NCAA champion Wisconsin, added strength Saturday against the Colonials (4-7). DU’s six goals were the most during its unbeaten streak, and the Pioneers surrendered three goals or fewer for the 10th consecutive game.
Moreover, Ryan Helgason, a swift-skating senior wing with perhaps the team’s biggest shot, finally got off the snide. His game-opening goal was his long-awaited and well-earned first point of the season.
“Hopefully the floodgates open now,” said Helgason, who had six shots, one shy of the team high.
Said Gwozdecky: “I’m glad he got the monkey off his back, and hopefully there is more in store.”
Tyler Ruegsegger, captain Adrian Veideman, Ryan Dingle, Brock Trotter and Chris Butler (seven shots) also scored for the Pioneers, who outshot the second-year Division I and Pittsburgh-based Colonials 42-27.
DU had leads of 3-0 midway through the first period, 4-1 at the end of the second, and 5-1 early in the third. Trotter added two assists and was one of five DU players with multiple points. Senior Glenn Fisher had another solid game in the net.
Fisher, outstanding in Friday’s 2-1 victory over upstart Air Force, has allowed just three goals in his past four games. His first two games during that stretch were shutouts.
Fisher started back-to-back weekend games for just the second time in his career, but Saturday marked the first time he finished both of them.
“I took it as a challenge and just wanted to get two Ws,” Fisher said.
Looking ahead, at least six DU players will face their first action against CC, which split a two-game series at North Dakota over the weekend and is 5-1 in its past six games. Trotter, a redshirt freshman, is the most experienced newcomer.
“Having confidence going into CC is going to be big,” Trotter said.
DENVER POST THREE STARS
1. Brock Trotter – The DU redshirt freshman had a goal and two assists, giving him a team-leading 16 points.
2. Ryan Helgason – The hard-working senior wing finally got his first goal of the season and had six shots for DU.
3. Chris Butler – DU’s sophomore defenseman had two points, including a goal.
WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
The announced crowd of 6,030 was the Pioneers’ 41st consecutive regular-season sellout at Magness Arena.
NEXT
Friday at Colorado College.
Robert Morris 0 1 1 – 2
Denver 2 2 2 – 6
First period – 1, Denver, Helgason 1 (Paukovich), 12:46. 2, Denver, Ruegsegger 4 (Mullen), 18:40. Penalties – Berkstresser, RM (cross checking), 5:16; Dingle, DU (hooking), 8:23; Cruthers, RM (interference), 10:05; Margott, RM (hooking), 16:28; Vossberg, DU (checking from behind), 19:12.
Second period – 3, Denver, Veideman 2 (Butler, Rakhshani), 9:15 (pp). 4, Robert Morris, Bidich 1 (Sparks, Bittle), 13:44. 5, Denver, Dingle 11 (Trotter, Rakhshani), 17:13 (pp). Penalties – Bonello, RM (tripping), 7:44; Gifford, DU (interference), 10:46; Biondich, RM (roughing), 17:01; Marcuzzi, DU (interference), 19:17; Butler, DU (roughing), 19:17; Hoppe, RM (roughing), 19:17.
Third period – 6, Trotter 6 (Mullen, Veideman), 1:54. 7, Robert Morris, Mills 1 (Towsley), 4:06. 8, Denver, Butler 4 (Trotter), 19:16. Penalties – Veideman, DU (slashing), 5:11; Bonello, RM (slashing), 9:08; Helgason, DU (roughing), 14:10; Bittle, RM (roughing), 14:10; Fast, DU (cross checking), 14:57; Sparks, RM (hooking), 17:12.
Shots – RM 6-9-12-27. DU 14-11-17-42. Power plays – RM 0 of 6. DU 2 of 7. Goalies – Boucher (4-5) 42 shots-36 saves. DU, Fisher (7-2) 27-25. A – 6,030.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
