Goalie Peter Mannino kept it close and winger Rhett Rakhshani provided the offensive power, but perhaps the most gratifying feeling from the University of Denver’s 3-2 win Saturday at St. Cloud State came from defenseman Andrew Thomas.
Thomas, the Pioneers’ senior captain, was reminded his leadership is working well for a team with 19 freshmen and sophomores. Thomas said Monday team chemistry and trust were responsible for rallying from a 2-0 deficit with six minutes to play.
“To show that kind of resiliency as a team — and most of all from some of our younger guys — the overall emotion and feeling on the bench was the biggest thing for me,” Thomas said. “The captains, the freshmen — all the underclassmen — were all saying ‘It’s not over’ on the bench during the last five minutes.”
Rakhshani scored short-handed 14:11 into the third period to make it 2-1. The sophomore tied it at 17:35 and won it with 28 seconds left. The natural hat trick was the first three-goal game of Rakhshani’s career.
Strength of schedule.
Colorado College and DU have played the toughest and third-toughest schedules in the country, according to the KRACH rating. (KRACH is Ken’s Ratings for American College Hockey, named after founder Ken Butler.)
WCHA programs make up the eight toughest schedules. North Dakota is second, followed by Minnesota (fourth), Minnesota-Duluth, Wisconsin, Michigan Tech and Minnesota State.
Record and strength of schedule are the primary tools of KRACH, which is why Michigan — No. 1 in the polls — is fourth overall in KRACH, behind DU, Miami (Ohio) and CC. The Wolverines’ strength of schedule is 24th among 58 Division I teams.
Footnotes.
Colorado College, idle last weekend, remained No. 3 in the two polls, behind Michigan and Miami (Ohio). DU climbed one spot, back to No. 4, in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll, and remained No. 4 in the U.S. College Hockey Online rankings. Air Force senior Eric Ehn, who has 16 points in his past nine games, is tied for the NCAA lead in assists (15) and sixth in points (21). Mannino is at 50 career wins, ninth in program history.
Front Range NCAA hockey rankings
1. Denver (12-4, 9-3 WCHA)
Last week: Swept St. Cloud State (3-2, 3-2).Next: At Alaska-Anchorage, Friday-Saturday.
Of note: Pioneers are 5-2 on the road, including 5-1 on Olympic-size ice.
2. Colorado College (10-4, 10-2 WCHA)
Last week: Idle. Next: At St. Cloud State, Friday-Saturday.
Of note: Tigers’ WCHA lead cut to two points by DU, but a comfortable seven over third-place Minnesota-Duluth.
3. Air Force (9-4-3, 7-4-3 AHA)
Last week: Tied twice against Canisius (3-3, 3-3).Next: Boston College, Dec. 29, at Holiday Classic in Minneapolis.
Of note: Six-game unbeaten streak appears impressive, but three ties should have been wins.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
