The University of Denver hockey team watched an impressive streak end Friday night. But the Pioneers managed to make sure another, more important one, continued.
Goalie Peter Mannino had his shutout streak end at 168 minutes, 31 seconds – third longest in program history – but the junior only allowed one goal as the Pioneers extended their unbeaten streak to seven games (6-0-1).
In the two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series opener between the past three NCAA champions, Mannino made 34 saves in Denver’s 3-1 win over reigning national champion Wisconsin before a sellout crowd of 6,164 at Magness Arena.
Freshman Tyler Ruegsegger, sophomore Chris Butler and junior Ryan Dingle got DU’s goals, each on the power play, and the Badgers’ goal also came with the man-advantage.
Dingle’s WCHA-leading 17th goal completed the scoring with 5:57 remaining and with Wisconsin freshman John Mitchell serving a five-minute major for kneeing DU freshman Keith Seabrook. Dingle slammed the puck in beside the net, after hitting the post from the same spot seconds earlier.
Mitchell’s penalty expired with 1:38 to go, shortly after DU’s Andrew Thomas was sent to the box for interference. Mannino stood strong in the final minute when Badgers goalie Brian Elliott (20 saves) was pulled for a 6-on-4 attack.
“I felt good and just let one in,” Mannino said. “It would be nice to get that one again, but it happens. They played well and got a good power-play goal, and I just have to be happy with how long (the streak) was.”
Wisconsin (8-11-2, 5-7-1 WCHA) got within 2-1 late in the second period with Butler in the box for holding. After several good chances, including one that required Mannino to bat the puck away with his stick, defenseman Jeff Likens cashed in on a Michael Davies feed from the corner. Likens tapped the puck through Mannino’s legs for the first goal the netminder has allowed in three games.
“Wisconsin did a terrific job,” said DU coach George Gwozdecky, whose team (15-6-2, 9-4-2 WCHA) was outshot 35-24. “They worked hard and hemmed us in our zone quite often on their forecheck. When we did gain possession in our zone, our timing to make that first pass was poor. But I give full credit to Wisconsin. Peter was terrific for us and we were opportunistic.”
The Pioneers, who remain in second place in the WCHA, scored early and late in the first period to take a 2-0 lead.
Ruegsegger, from the left circle, used a screen from Geoff Paukovich to deposit the puck in the far corner at 2:57. Butler, who assisted on Ruegsegger’s goal, scored with a wrist shot from between the circles at 15:47 – one second after a 5-on-3 DU power play went to 5-on-4.
Wisconsin 0 1 0 – 1
Denver 2 0 1 – 3
First period – 1, Denver, Ruegsegger 8 (Butler, Rakhshani), 2:57 (pp). 2, Denver, Butler 5 (Gifford), 15:47 (pp). Penalties – Thomas, DU (roughing), :35; Grotting, UW (roughing), :35; Ford, UW (cross checking), 2:03; Rakhshani, DU (elbowing), 3:32; Fast, DU (holding), 6:23; Davies, UW (high sticking), 11:19; Engel, UW (hooking), 13:46; Olinger, UW (interference), 15:05.
Second period – 3, Wisconsin, Likens 1 (Davies), 17:36 (pp). Penalties – Rakhshani, DU (holding), 6:42; Gorowsky, UW (interference), 9:43; UW bench (too many men), 9:00; Butler, DU (holding), 16:12.
Third period – 4, Denver, Dingle 17 (Trotter, Veideman), 14:03 (pp). Penalties – Olinger, UW (holding), 3:42; Mitchell, UW (5-major, kneeing), 13:22; Thomas, DU (interference), 18:04.
Shots on goal – UW 12-15-8-35. DU 7-6-10-23.
Power play opportunities – UW 1 of 5. DU 3 of 9.
Goalies – UW, Elliott (6-11-1) 23 shots-20 saves. DU, Mannino (6-3-1) 35-34. A – 6,124.
Staff writer Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
