Major changes in the University of Denver lineup on Saturday night led to a major upset.
Minus four benched regulars, the No. 10-ranked Pioneers got terrific goaltending from Marc Cheverie, a rare power-play goal and an extraordinary bounce to upset No. 1 and previously undefeated Minnesota 4-0 at Magness Arena.
The victory before a sellout crowd of 6,057 gave the Pioneers a split of the two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series and snapped a three-game losing streak. And it was the first career shutout for Cheverie (34 saves) in 14 career starts for the Pioneers (7-5-1, 5-4-1 WCHA).
Minnesota fell to 7-1-4, 6-1-3.
“We had to make a stand after the slump we were in,” Cheverie said. “With myself and everybody on the team, we came out with energy like it was a playoff game.”
On the heels of Minnesota’s decisive 5-2 win Friday, DU coach George Gwozdecky scratched senior defenseman Patrick Mullen, sophomore forwards Jesse Martin and Dustin Jackson and freshman Luke Salazar. Mullen has a team- high 12 assists, and Salazar entered the game with a club-best seven goals.
“I don’t want to talk about the (scratched) guys as much as the guys that came in the lineup,” Gwozdecky said, referring to fourth-line forwards Stephen Cunningham, Brandon Vossberg and Julian Marcuzzi. “They didn’t get a lot of ice time, but they gave us enthusiasm and energy in the locker room and were excited to be in the lineup.”
Replacing Mullen was Patrick Wiercioch, who had missed the past two games with an upper-body injury. The skilled NHL-bound freshman played only on the power play, but that was good enough. He set up Anthony Maiani’s power-play goal that made it 2-0 early in the second period, DU’s first goal with the extra attacker in three games.
Rhett Rakhshani scored 6:14 into the third to make it 3-0, and Vossberg beat goalie Alex Kangas on a short-handed breakaway for an insurance goal.
“Denver was the more aggressive team tonight and played a little bit harder than we did and deserved to win the game,” Minnesota coach Don Lucia said. “They sent a message when they sat the four guys.”
Rakhshani’s goal was strange. His wrist shot from the right circle hit the right post, the glass behind the net, and then Kangas in the back before settling in the crease, where Rakhshani tapped it in.
DU Recap
Three stars
1. Marc Cheverie.
DU sophomore had 34 saves for his first career shutout.
2. Tyler Bozak.
Had a goal, team-high seven shots and was plus-2 for the Pioneers.
3. Brandon Vossberg.
Minnesota native had a short-handed goal in his second game of the season.
What you might have missed
In seven career games against the Gophers, Bozak has scored in every one, and nine total.
Up next
Colgate, Friday at Magness Arena
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
Minnesota 0 0 0 — 0
Denver 1 1 2 — 4
First period — 1, Denver, Bozak 7 (Glasser), 4:39. Penalties — Vossberg, DU (roughing), 2:39; Lofquist, UM (roughing), 2:39; Bozak, DU (tripping), 8:33; Brookwell, DU (roughing), 12:07; Marcuzzi, DU (roughing), 12:07; Carman, UM (roughing), 12:07; Flynn, UM (roughing), 12:07; Flynn, UM (charging), 12:07; Hoeffel, UM (tripping), 19:50.
Second period — 2, Denver, Maiani 6 (Wiercioch, Colborne), 4:45 (pp). Penalties — Testwuide, DU (cross checking), 2:22; Fairchild, UM (hooking), 2:58; Testwuide, DU (hooking), 5:35; Schroeder, UM (diving), 5:35; Flynn, DU (tripping), 15:03; Schroeder, UM (slashing), 17:50; Testwuide, DU (5-major, cross checking, game DQ), 20:00; Barriball, UM (roughing), 20:00; UM bench (unsportsmanlike conduct), 20:00.
Third period — 3, Denver, Rakhshani 5 (Colborne, Lee), 6:14. 4, Denver, Vossberg 1 (unassisted), 9:11 (sh). Penalties — Bozak, DU (holding), 7:57; Ostrow, DU (slashing), 8:39; Fairchild, UM (slashing), 8:39; Lee, DU (tripping), 9:46; Hoeffel, UM (tripping), 10:13; Rakhshani, DU (holding), 16:45.
Shots — UM 11-12-11 — 34. DU 14-11-6 — 31. Power plays — UM 0 of 6. DU 1 of 7. Goalies — UM, Kangas (7-1-4) 31 shots-27 saves. DU, Cheverie (7-5-1) 34-34. A — 6,057.
