The “Big” might now be permanently attached to Joe Colborne’s name.
Big Joe had a huge game Saturday night, scoring and assisting on the University of Denver’s goals in a 2-1 victory over Minnesota-Duluth at Magness Arena.
The 6-foot-5 Colborne — a freshman who in June was selected 16th overall in the NHL draft by the Boston Bruins — doubled his point production from his first eight career games.
“Weight off my shoulders,” Colborne said after No. 6 DU completed its two-game sweep over the Bulldogs. “I’ve been generating a lot of chances the past couple weekends, and things haven’t really been going my way.
“But sooner or later, when you’re playing with guys as good as (Tyler) Bozak, (Anthony) Maiani and (Luke) Salazar, you know it’s going to start going in, and tonight was the night.”
Colborne’s big night coincided with DU’s weakest offensive performance of the season. The Pioneers, who entered the game averaging 39 shots, produced just 20 — none by leading scorer Bozak and just one apiece by Maiani and Salazar.
But DU’s revamped power play was the difference. Both goals came with the man-advantage, and the Pioneers finished 2-of-6 on the night and 4-of-13 in the series with the extra attacker.
Struggling junior center Tyler Ruegsegger had only one shot, but the Lakewood native made it count. Ruegsegger’s tap-in between the circles off Colborne’s pass from the corner broke a 1-1 tie 8:16 into the third period.
“Finally,” Ruegsegger said of his second goal in the past six games.
Colborne’s power-play goal was a one-timer between the circles off Maiani’s pass from the sidewall, giving DU a 1-0 lead 14:41 into the second period.
“I think it’s great for Joe to score a big goal like that and great for Tyler Ruegsegger, who has been snakebit quite a bit,” DU coach George Gwoz- decky said. “To score a big goal like that on the power play for the winning goal is going to really help Tyler considerably.”
The Bulldogs (4-3-2, 1-3-1 WCHA) scored a fluke goal late in the second to tie it, spoiling what would have been Marc Cheverie’s first career shutout. Michael Gergen’s shot from the blue line deflected off a stick and defenseman Cody Brookwell’s skate. Cheverie had no chance, but he was otherwise pleased to allow just two goals in the series. The Pioneers (6-2-1, 4-1-1 WCHA) won 5-1 on Friday.
“It was a good weekend for us. We were great defensively,” Cheverie said. “We just wanted to play two solid games, and I wanted to eliminate the mental lapses that I’ve had to start the year. I was fortunate to do that, and I’d like to keep it rolling.”
DU junior Rhett Rakhshani left the game in the first period with what the team called an “upper-body injury,” and senior defenseman and captain J.P. Testwuide missed his second consecutive game with a groin injury.
Minnesota-Duluth 0 1 0 — 1
Denver 0 1 1 — 2
First period — None. Penalties — Brookwell, DU (interference), :21; Meyers, UMD (tripping), :34; Jackson, DU (checking from behind), 7:42; Gifford, DU (boarding), 12:00; Mullen, DU (tripping), 15:35; Fontaine, UMD (holding), 16:13; Lee, DU (tripping), 17:43.
Second period — 1, Denver, Colborne 2 (Maiani, Wiercioch), 14:41 (pp). 2, Minnesota-Duluth, Gergen 2 (Montgomery, Sharp), 18:40. Penalties — Huttel, UMD (holding), 12:30; Greer, UMD (slashing), 14:11; Salazar, DU (cross checking), 17:46; Mullen, DU (roughing), 18:40; Atkins, UMD (slashing), 19:29; Ruegsegger, DU (hooking), 19:29.
Third period — 3, Denver, Ruegsegger 4 (Colborne, Maiani), 8:16 (pp). Penalties — Atkins, UMD (tripping), 7:45; Martin, DU (tripping), 9:08; Cascalenda, UMD (high sticking, 10-misconduct), 12:11.
Shots — UMD 9-9-10—28. DU 7-10-3—20. Power plays—UMD 1 of 8. DU 2 of 6. Goalies — UMD, Stalock (4-3-2) 20 shots-18 saves. DU, Cheverie (6-2-1) 28-27. A — 5,122.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357, mchambers@denverpost.com
DU Recap
Three stars
1. Joe Colborne.
Freshman scored and assisted on DU’s goals.
2. Marc Cheverie.
Pioneers goalie (27 saves) nearly got the shutout.
3. Tyler Ruegsegger.
Lakewood native got the game-winning goal.
What you might have missed
DU is mourning the loss of Jim White, the program’s longtime scorekeeper and head of off-ice officiating. White, who before this season had not missed a DU home game since 1974, died early Friday morning of liver and kidney failure. He was 65.
Up next
At St. Cloud State, Friday-Saturday.
