COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-
Keith Seabrook and Ryan Dingle scored for Denver in the final 36 seconds of regulation to salvage a 5-5 tie against Colorado College at the sold out Colorado Springs World Arena on Saturday night.
Dingle scored the tying goal with four seconds remaining by redirecting a shot from freshman Tyler Ruegsegger, keeping Colorado College (17-15-4, 13-12-3 WCHA) from sweeping the regular season series from the Pioneers (21-13-4, 13-11-4).
“It’s hard to realize for us that it was a great series for us,” CC coach Scott Owens. “You get off to a big lead and score five power-play goals, you don’t really think you’re not going to win the game. It was disappointing from that standpoint.”
CC scored all five of its goals during power-play chances, including three in quick succession during the first period that gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
A goal by DU’s Chris Butler trimmed CC’s lead to 3-1 at the first intermission, but second-period power-play goals by Chad Rau and Lee Sweatt helped keep the Pioneers at bay.
After pulling goalie Peter Mannino for an extra attacker, DU got to within 5-4 on a goal by freshman Keith Seabrook with 35.4 seconds remaining before Dingle produced the equalizer.
Rau led Colorado College with two goals and an assist while freshmen Andreas Vlassopoulos and Bill Sweatt each posted three assists. Brock Trotter paced the Pioneers with one goal and two assists and Dingle added one goal and one assist. Freshman Rhett Rakhshani recorded three assists.
“We’re obviously very unhappy with the start of the game, but very encouraged by our ability to continue to stay in there and believe that we can come back,” Denver coach George Gwozdecky said. “We had to have a few little breaks, but nonetheless the point is important for us.”
The Tigers earned the fifth seed in the WCHA and will host Michigan Tech when the best-of-three first-round tournament series begins on Friday. Denver, which has recorded only one win in its past seven games, is the fourth seed and will host defending national champion Wisconsin.
