Ah, what memories.
The University of Denver on Friday reminded its fans and the Maine Black Bears about the unforgettable 2004 NCAA championship game in Boston.
That game was imitated on a far lesser scale at Magness Arena, where the 10th-ranked Pioneers produced a 2-0 victory to open the season for both teams and begin a two-game nonconference series.
DU, despite playing without sophomore Rhett Rakhshani (concussion), who led the team in assists last season, produced 40 shots through two periods and 48 for the game. The Pioneers got second-period power-play goals from sophomore Tyler Ruegsegger and freshman Kyle Ostrow, and senior goalie Peter Mannino stopped 25 shots for his 10th career shutout.
Maine nearly solved Mannino while enjoying a 6-on-4 advantage in the final minute after DU sophomore Matt Glasser took an elbowing minor at 18:52 and goalie Ben Bishop was pulled for a sixth attacker. In April of 2004 at the Fleet Center, the Black Bears failed to capitalize on a 6-on-3 advantage in the final 90 seconds and DU prevailed 1-0 to win the first of two consecutive NCAA titles.
“Our team is working so hard to prepare for this (series), and to get a result like that, and get as many shots as we did against a team like that, we felt good about it,” said Mannino, who is three shutouts shy of Gerry Powers’ program record and two behind 2004 Frozen Four MVP Adam Berkhoel. “But you know what, it’s just one game. We just have to keep our mind-set of how it was tonight.”
DU coach George Gwozdecky, who held his first full practice with his young team last Saturday, was pleased with how his team played in all three zones, but said his players still are far from game shape.
“Five or six times, when we completely went brain-dead because we were so tired, they were able to generate a little offense, but Peter was great,” Gwozdecky said. “At the other end, I thought we generated a lot of chances. Both goaltenders were just terrific.”
He added: “We have quickness, we’ve got some speed, and that speed is really enhanced when we move the puck properly.”
Rakhshani, who sustained a concussion in DU’s exhibition game Sunday, likely will be held out of Saturday’s series finale but might return Thursday at Notre Dame.
Maine 0 0 0 – 0
Denver 0 2 0 – 2
First period – None. Penalties – Bellamy, UM (roughing), 1:01; Duffy, UM (cross-checking), 2:48; Brookwell, UM (holding), 5:34; Bozak, DU (hooking), 15:50; Dimmen, UM (roughing), 18:01.
Second period – 1, Denver, Ruegsegger 1 (Butler), 5:46 (pp). 2, Denver, Ostrow 1 (Ruegsegger, Butler), 19:42 (pp). Penalties – Hahn, UM (tripping), :37; Randall, UM (boarding), 4:41; Butler, DU (interference), 7:05; Dee, UM (elbowing), 19:18.
Third period – None. Penalties – Clark, UM (interference), 1:30; Laise, UM (slashing), 6:30; Glasser, DU (elbowing), 18:52; Testwuide, DU (roughing), 19:03; Hopson, UM (slashing), 19:03.
Shots – UM 7-11-7 – 25. DU 16-24-8 – 48. Power plays – UM 0-of-4. DU 2-of-8. Goalies – UM, Bishop (0-1) 48 shots-46 saves. DU, Mannino (1-0) 25-25. A – 6,040.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
