The top-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers missed the visitors’ introductions Friday night, entering the Magness Arena ice surface when the University of Denver starting lineup was announced.
But it was the Pioneers who were tardy the rest of the evening, playing poorly early and often en route to a 5-2 loss in Game 1 of a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series.
Gophers freshman center Jordan Schroeder had two goals and an assist, junior wing Ryan Stoa contributed a goal and two assists and sophomore goalie Alex Kangas stopped 25 shots to keep the Gophers unbeaten (7-0-4, 6-0-3 WCHA).
Denver, which committed just two penalties, went 0-for-7 on the power play and fell to 2-5-1 in its past eight games. The Pioneers (6-5-1, 4-4-1) have lost three games in a row, and no players were available for interviews after getting pounded by the Gophers.
“There were some guys that worked real hard tonight and were effective, and others that are more affected by their individual games and the struggles they’re having against their individual games, which is taking away from our team game,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “I don’t think we were a very difficult team to play against tonight. I thought the Gophers played well, but I don’t think you had to play great against us (to win).”
Minnesota, which went 0-4-1 against DU last season, led 2-0 early in the second period and 3-1 going into the third, then got goals from Mike Carman and Stoa to break the game open and chase DU goalie Marc Cheverie (17 saves).
Schroeder made it 3-1 late in the second period. He crashed the net on a rush with Stoa and tapped in the big forward’s feed to the mouth of the crease.
“It was a great road win,” Stoa said. “We knew they had a tough week of practice (because of final exams) and we wanted to come out and punch them in the teeth.”
Schroeder’s first goal came 12:26 into the game. He skated around Rhett Rakhshani in the neutral zone and blasted a slap shot above the right circle.
The Gophers went ahead 2-0 on Jay Barriball’s backhander from the left circle, after Stoa capitalized on a embarrassing turnover by DU defenseman Patrick Mullen and slid the puck to Barriball.
“We scored some timely goals, and obviously anytime you’re on the road and can get a 2-0 lead is key,” Gophers coach Don Lucia said. “I thought our penalty killers did a really good job and Alex made some timely saves.”
DU cut its 2-0 deficit in half when Tyler Bozak hammered in a slap shot from the right circle, beating Kangas inside the near post. It was Bozak’s eighth goal in six career games against the Gophers.
The skilled 22-year-old sophomore has 24 career goals, one-third coming against Minnesota.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
DU Recap
Three stars
1. Jordan Schroeder.
The freshman had two goals and an assist.
2. Ryan Stoa.
Gophers junior had a goal and two assists.
3. Alex Kangas.
Gophers goalie made 25 saves.
What you might have missed
Longtime DU scorekeeper and WCHA off-ice official Jim White was honored before the game. White, who before this season had not missed a Pioneers home game in 34 years, died Nov. 6 of liver and kidney failure. He was 65.
Up next
Game 2 series finale, 7 p.m. on Saturday at Magness Arena.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
Minnesota 1 2 2 — 5
Denver 0 1 1 — 2
First period — 1, Minnesota, Schroeder 5 (Schack), 12:26. Penalties — Testwuide, DU (hooking), 1:02; Ness, UM (cross checking), 14:08.
Second period — 2, Minnesota, Barriball 5 (Stoa), 5:46. 3, Denver, Bozak 6 (Ryder, Maiani), 8:02. 4, Minnesota, Schroeder 6 (Stoa), 18:41. Penalties — Lucia, UM (slashing), :58; Flynn, UM (cross checking), 13:13; Barriball, UM (hooking), 19:56.
Third period — 5, Minnesota, Carman 4 (Ness, Fischer), 7:42. 6, Minnesota, Stoa 10 (Schroeder), 12:04. 7, Denver, Gifford 1 (Glasser, Testwuide), 12:21. Penalties — Fairchild, UM (cross checking), 18:12; Lofquist, UM (holding), 8:30; Ryder, DU (slashing), 12:02; Sacchetti, UM (interference), 16:57.
Shots — UM 5-10-8 — 23. DU 6-13-8 — 27. Power plays — UM 1 of 2. DU 0 of 7. Goalies — UM, Kangas (7-0-4) 27 shots-25 saves. DU, Cheverie (6-5-1) 22-18 (52:04), Paulgaard 1-1 (7:56). A — 5,849.
