Before losing forward Rhett Rakhshani to injury and rallying with two third-period goals to beat St. Cloud State 3-1 at Magness Arena on Friday, the University of Denver’s three-game homestand was extended to at least five — given that the Pioneers clinched home-ice advantage for the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs.
The guarantee of a top-five finish in the 10-team league developed when Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota tied 2-2 in Minneapolis. Now the Pioneers can focus on winning the MacNaughton Cup as the WCHA regular-season champions.
With Friday’s win — spearheaded by Kyle Ostrow’s two goals, Patrick Mullen’s two points and Marc Cheverie’s 25 saves — DU produced its 20th win of the season and broke a tie with North Dakota for first place, forging two points ahead.
The Fighting Sioux (33 points), who have played two fewer games than DU, host Colorado College today and Sunday before finishing the season with a two-game set at Wisconsin. The Pioneers (35 points) conclude their two-game series against St. Cloud State tonight before hosting CC next Saturday on the final night of the regular season.
Rakhshani, who entered the game as DU’s second-leading scorer and tied for the team lead in goals (14), might not be available for the Cup run. He sustained what the team is calling a lower-body injury in the first period and did not return.
“He’s questionable for (tonight) — at best questionable,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said.
Without Rakhshani, the Pioneers rallied from a 1-0 deficit, getting the tying goal from Ostrow midway through the second period and the game-winner from Mullen early in the third.
Ostrow added a power-play goal late in the third to make the Pioneers 1-of-2 with the man advantage. The Huskies (17-14-2, 12-12-1) went 0-of-4 with the extra attacker.
“Losing Rhett was a big thing for us. He’s a big part of our team,” Ostrow said. “We had to switch up the lines and try to get things going, and we pulled together as a team. It was a big win for us.”
Mullen’s goal was a beauty. He skated in the offensive zone on a 2-on-1 with Luke Salazar, faking a pass to Salazar before wristing the puck in off the far post.
“Not too many 2-on-1s this year,” Mullen said. “I practice it all the time, and (usually) shoot it, and that’s what I did and it went in. I really wasn’t thinking pass at all.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
Pioneers Recap
The Denver Post three stars
1. Kyle Ostrow.
Sophomore wing had two goals, giving him 12 on the season.
2. Patrick Mullen.
Senior defenseman had the game-winning goal.
3. Marc Cheverie.
Sophomore goalie has allowed just one goal in his past two games.
What you might have missed
Insufficient replays failed to prove it, but DU appeared to be offsides just before Ostrow’s game-tying goal.
Up next
Series finale, today at 7 p.m.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
