COLORADO SPRINGS — In a series billed as a battle between two of college hockey’s best goaltenders, a defenseman made the best save Friday night in Game 1 of the University of Denver-Colorado College home-and-home set.
CC sophomore Kris Fredheim helped freshman goalie Richard Bachman, a DU reject, defeat senior netminder Peter Mannino and the seemingly disinterested Pioneers 5-1 at the World Arena.
Late in the second period, Bachman was out of position in front of the left post, and Fredheim stood in the crease to protect the net. A shot caromed off his chest and was destined to hit twine when Fredheim slapped it midair out of harm’s way to preserve CC’s 2-1 lead.
“Pure luck,” Fredheim said.
A few minutes later, center Chad Rau scored his second of three goals and CC was in command en route to easily running its unbeaten streak over DU to six games (4-0-2).
Rau’s hat trick was the first of his career and gave him 11 goals in nine games against DU.
The third-ranked Pioneers didn’t seem into the game until the Tigers poured it on early in the third period.
After Rau completed his natural hat trick (three consecutive goals) and Nate Prosser scored his first career goal to make it 5-1, things got chippy, finally resembled a Gold Pan game.
A combined 18 minutes of minor penalties were called at 9:06, and DU star Tyler Ruegsegger was sent off for a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct 23 seconds later.
“We weren’t ready to play,” said Ruegsegger, who avoided getting the more serious “game disqualification” checking-from-behind major that carries a one-game suspension. “They took it to us, and by not being ready to play, that’s what happens.”
Said DU coach George Gwozdecky: “I take that game on my shoulders. That’s my fault. It’s my responsibility to have those guys ready, and they weren’t ready. ”
Mannino (8-3) was not his stellar self, and he showed it early. Cody Lampl’s first goal of the game was a relatively harmless bad-angle wrist shot from below the right circle. It got past a surprised Mannino (25 saves).
“I feel like I let the guys down, letting in a bad goal right away,” Mannino said. “I put it on myself. Bachman outplayed me tonight.”
It was the first time in five games DU and Mannino allowed more than one goal, and just the third time this season.
“He’s still a great goaltender,” CC coach Scott Owens said of Mannino. “Tonight we had a bit of a lucky stick. He’s one of the top goalies in the country and competes like a son of a gun and I know he’s going to come back (Saturday) and battle.”
Colorado College 2 1 2 — 5
Denver 1 0 0 — 1
First period — 1, Colorado College, Lampl 1 (M. Testwuide), 5:33. 2, Denver, Trotter 6 (Bozak, Jackson), 11:00. 3, Colorado College, Rau 7 (Kilpatrick), 16:16. Penalty — Rakhshani, DU (hooking), 6:28.
Second period — 4, Colorado College, Rau 8 (Thauwald, Prosser), 19:40. Penalties — J. Testwuide, DU (holding), 2:14; Gannon, CC (roughing), 4:53; Fredheim, CC (cross checking), 15:20.
Third period — 5, Colorado College, Rau 9 (Thauwald, Prosser), 5:42. 6, Colorado College, Prosser 1 (Hillen, Sweatt), 8:59 (pp). Penalties — Patrosso, CC (tripping), 1:36; Trotter, DU (cross checking), 7:04; Rakhshani, DU (instigating), 9:06; Lampl, CC (tripping), 9:06; Rakhshani, DU (roughing), 9:06; Mullen, DU (double-minor, roughing), 9:06; Lowery, CC (double-minor, roughing), 9:06; Trotter, DU (interference), 9:21; Ruegsegger, DU (5-major, checking from behind, game misconduct), 9:29; Connelly, CC (slashing), 9:29; Sweatt, CC (tripping), 16:04.
Shots on goal — DU 5-13-11—29. CC 9-12-9—30. Power-play opportunities — DU 0 of 4. CC 1 of 5. Goalies — DU, Mannino (8-3) 30 shots-25 saves. DU, Bachman (8-1) 29-28. A — 7,750.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
