The only Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff series that didn’t go into overtime Saturday night might have had the most nerve-racking finish of them all.
In a thrilling defensive stance at Magness Arena, No. 3-seeded Denver held off Minnesota-Duluth 1-0 to sweep the best-of-three series and advance to the prestigious WCHA Final Five for the first time since 2005.
The Pioneers (24-13-1), who produced just 15 shots, were on a two-man disadvantage for the final 2:03 of the game. But senior goalie Peter Mannino (25 saves) stopped everything to produce his 15th career shutout, tying him for third-most among WCHA netminders.
“Pressure games in the playoffs are great,” said Mannino, who backstopped Friday’s 6-3 win. “It shows our character. And if you look at both games this weekend, we had a little offense Friday, and (Saturday) we battled defensively. Two different types of games, and it’s good to see us play both ends of pressure games.”
Freshman wing Anthony Maiani, who is DU’s smallest player at 5-feet-7 and 155 pounds, got the biggest goal of the series midway through the second period.
His unassisted tally came on a 2-on-1 rush, beating goalie Alex Stalock through the legs with a wrist shot.
Mannino upstaged Maiani in the final two minutes. With 2:45 to go, Bulldogs defenseman Jason Garrison prevented an odd-man rush with a knee-on-knee hit to Jesse Martin, sending Garrison to the penalty box. However, DU captain Andrew Thomas joined Garrison for unsportsmanlike conduct.
With 2:03 to go, DU defenseman J.P. Testwuide was whistled for high-sticking, and Minnesota-Duluth pulled Stalock to create a 5-on-3 attack.
When Garrison and Thomas were released from the box with 45 seconds to go, the Bulldogs had a 6-on-4 advantage. But behind junior defenseman Chris Butler, DU made two ensuing clears and punched its ticket to the finals of the WCHA Tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
“The way we played in the situation like we did in the last two minutes was (a result) of the many challenges and adversity we’ve gone through this year,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “We’ve hardened. … These guys are very, very happy and excited to advance to the WCHA Final Five.”
The Pioneers, who are assured of an NCAA Tournament berth, will play in Friday’s semifinals in St. Paul.
The 16-team national field will be revealed next Sunday.
“The WCHA Final Five, I think, is on par with (the Frozen Four) and every other national tournament,” said Thomas, a senior who last played in the Final Five as a freshman.
Recap
Three stars
1. Peter Mannino.
Extended record for career shutouts to 15, tying him for third all time in the WCHA.
2. Anthony Maiani.
Freshman scored the big goal.
3. Kyle Ostrow.
DU freshman had a team-high four shots and was plus-1.
What you might have missed
DU finished 16-4-1 at Magness Arena. If the Pioneers play again this season in Denver, it will be April 10-12 in the Frozen Four at the Pepsi Center.
Minnesota-Duluth 0 0 0 — 0
Denver 0 1 0 — 1
First period — None. Penalties — Gergen, UMD (slashing), 2:20; Thomas, DU (interference), 6:56; Ostrow, DU (checking from behind), 10:06; Bordson, UMD (interference), 12:13; UMD bench (too many men), 14:22; Carroll, UMD (interference), 19:34.
Second period — 1, Denver, Maiani 6 (unassisted), 7:48. Penalties — Butler, DU (high sticking), 5:14; UMD bench (too many men), 8:27; Meyers, UMD (hooking), 15:42.
Third period — None. Penalties — Butler, DU (hooking), :42; Garrison, UMD (interference), 17:15; Thomas, DU (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:15; Testwuide, DU (high sticking), 17:57.
Shots — UMD 7-7-11 — 25. DU 3-9-3 — 15. Power plays — UMD 0 of 5. DU 0 of 6. Goalies — UMD, Stalock (13-17-6) 15 shots-14 saves. DU, Mannino (23-13-1) 25, 25. A — 4,820.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
