MINNEAPOLIS — Undone by the injury bug on its last trip to the Twin Cities, the University of Denver hockey team didn’t let the flu bug get it down Friday night.
Despite several players, and their coach, missing practice earlier in the week due to illness, the fourth-ranked Pioneers were rock solid in their conference opener. A pair of goals from Rhett Rakhshani and 30 saves by Marc Cheverie spurred a 3-0 win at No. 11 Minnesota. It was Cheverie’s second shutout in three starts this season and sixth in his career.
It was a triumphant return to Mariucci Arena for the Pioneers (3-2-0, 1-0-0 WCHA), who were decimated by injuries when they finished the 2008-09 season here with a 4-2 loss to Miami (Ohio) in the NCAA playoffs.
“As I walked in the building I definitely had some regrets and some bad memories of that game,” Rakhshani said.
This time, Denver kept Minnesota’s often raucous audience quiet throughout.
“There were times when you could tell the crowd really wanted to get involved,” said Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky, who missed three days of practice with the flu during the week. “You could feel the energy starting to build. Every time that happened, either Marc Cheverie would deny that by making a save or we would be able to make a play to keep the building fairly quiet.”
Blanked in their previous outing, a 4-0 loss at Ohio State, the Pioneers’ scoring drought continued in the first period, despite 11 shots on goal and the period’s only power play.
The dry spell was finally snapped early in the middle period, when Tyler Ruegsegger tipped a shot by Matt Donovan in front of the Minnesota net.
“The first one, I think, went off Ruegsegger’s rear end, but he put himself in a position to score by going to the net and they got the puck through,” Minnesota coach Don Lucia said.
The Pioneers appeared to have doubled their lead a few minutes later when Rakhshani capped off a short-handed rush by shoveling the puck under Minnesota goalie Alex Kangas. After review, officials ruled no goal, saying Rakhshani’s contact with the goaltender nullified the play.
Two shifts later, Rakhshani took a pass from Ruegsegger and blasted a long-range rocket that deflected off Kangas’ right shoulder and in, giving the Pioneers a 2-0 lead.
Rakhshani added an empty-net goal with 1.4 seconds remaining.
“Our team was keeping guys to the outside and letting me see the pucks,” said Cheverie, who blanked Minnesota 4-0 last season. “They’re making my life that much easier. I really don’t deserve that much credit for the shutout. It’s a team thing.”
Gwozdecky, who has rotated Cheverie and freshman Adam Murray in goal, said tonight’s starter would be decided closer to game time.
Denver 0 2 1 — 3
Minnesota 0 0 0 — 0
First period — No scoring. Penalties — Flynn, MN (hooking), 7:02; Carman, MN (roughing), 15:15; Rakhshani, DU (interference), 17:21.
Second period — 1, Denver, Ruegsegger 3 (Donovan, Wiercioch), 5:31. 2, Denver, Rakh-shani 2 (Ruegsegger, Maiani), 11:19. 7, Vermont, Irwin 1 (Miller), 15:46. Penalties — Wrenn, DU (roughing), 0:30; Carman, MN (roughing), 0:30; Fairchild, MN (tripping), 1:29; Helgeson, MN (roughing), 3:11; Shore, DU (roughing), 3:11; Wrenn, DU (interference), 5:48; Ruegsegger, DU (slashing), 8:47; Nutini, DU (hooking), 16:25.
Third period — 3, Denver, Rakhshani 3 (Donovan), 19:58. Penalties — Schroeder, MN (slashing), 10:00.
Shots on goal — DU 11-14-9—34. MN 14-9-7—30. Power-play opportunities — DU 0 of 3. MN 0 of 3. Goalies — DU, Cheverie (3-0-0) 30 shots-30 saves. MN, Kangas (0-2-0) 34-31.
Referees — Bill Mason, Max Battimo. Assistants — Jerome Krieger, Jeff Schultz. A — 9,786.
