More contribution from freshmen and another splendid performance from senior goalie Peter Mannino spelled another victory for the University of Denver hockey team on Friday night.
The Pioneers opened Western Collegiate Hockey Association play with a convincing 5-1 victory over Minnesota-Duluth at Magness Arena.
Each DU goal was tallied by an underclassman, including one apiece by freshmen Anthony Maiani and Kyle Ostrow that gave DU a 3-1 lead heading into the third period.
Sophomores Tyler Ruegsegger and Brandon Vossberg scored late in the game to turn it into a rout. Mannino had 22 saves.
DU improved to 4-1, 1-0 WCHA, heading into Saturday’s two-game series finale against the previously unbeaten Bulldogs (4-1-1, 2-1).
“Tonight we got some of the bounces, and they didn’t,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “This series is a long ways from being over. There are many areas we need to improve on. I think Peter, right now, is without a doubt our rock. Mr. Reliable. Mr. Consistent. There weren’t too many times he gave up an important rebound.”
DU sophomore Brock Trotter opened the scoring with a power-play goal 1:59 into the second period. Minnesota-Duluth tied it just 42 seconds later on a top-shelf, far-side wrist shot by Jordon Fulton, but the Pioneers took command on Maiani’s one-time snapper off Ruegsegger’s centering pass 6:40 into the period.
Ostrow, who assisted on Trotter’s goal, made it 3-1 at 11:30 of the second period when his shot rebounded off goalie Alex Stalock and off the skate of defenseman Travis Gawryletz.
Ruegsegger fooled Stalock with a deke from the right circle, and then deposited a wrist shot near the end line. And Vossberg took a pass from freshman Dustin Jackson and buried a one-timer from between the circles.
“I thought we were fortunate to have terrific goaltending and were fortunate on our second goal, but there are definitely areas of our game that we need to shore up,” Gwozdecky said. “This was not by any stretch of the imagination a great game for us. The score might indicate otherwise, but it’s misleading. Our coverages were very loose, and our gaps were large. We came up with some big saves. … We look for better execution (Saturday).”
Freshmen have accounted for half of DU’s 16 goals on the year. Ostrow and Maiani are tied with Trotter for a team-high three goals.
Sophomore Rhett Rakhshani had two assists to give him four in just three games. Rakhshani missed the season-opening series against Maine with a concussion.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
Minnesota-Duluth 0 1 0 – 1
Denver 0 3 2 – 5
First period – None. Penalties – Mullen, DU (interference), 3:29.
Second period – 1, Denver, Trotter 3 (Ostrow, Butler), 1:59 (pp). 2, Minnesota-Duluth, Fulton 2 (Kemp, Fontaine), 2:41. 3, Denver, Maiani 3 (Ruegsegger, Rakhshani), 6:40. 4, Denver, Ostrow 3 (Thomas, Bozak), 11:39. Penalties – Oberg, UMD (boarding), 1:28; Akins, UMD (unsportsmanlike), 7:01; Thomas, DU (unsportsmanlike), Akins, UMD (slashing), 7:01; Ruegsegger, DU (interference), 7:54; DU bench (too many men), 16:29; Kemp, UMD (high sticking), 17:43; May, DU (unsportsmanlike), 20:00; Curry, UMD (unsportsmanlike), 20:00.
Third period – 5, Denver, Ruegsegger 2 (Rakhshani, Mannino), 17:58. 6, Denver, Vossberg 1 (Jackson), 18:47. Penalties – Akins, UMD (hooking), 2:58; Vossberg, DU (holding), 4:54; Greer, UMD (interference), 11:02; Curry, UMD (interference), 13:17; Gifford, DU (hooking), 13:32.
Shots – UMD 4-7-12 – 23. DU 9-11-10 – 30. Goalies – UMD, Stalock (3-1-1) 30 shots-25 saves. DU, Mannino (4-1) 23-22. A – 6,048.
