The focus recently has been on defense, tightening things up around All-America-caliber goalie Marc Cheverie. Friday night, the University of Denver’s offense awoke from a light slumber, producing five goals for the first time since Oct. 9.
Behind two goals from junior Jesse Martin and a “Rakh-solid” performance from captain Rhett Rakhshani, second- ranked DU opened a two-game series against St. Cloud State with a 5-3 victory at Magness Arena.
The win was the Pioneers’ third straight. It improved their record to 7-1-1 in their past nine games and kept them tied with fifth-ranked Colorado College atop the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
If DU and CC win again tonight, they will enter next weekend’s home-and-home Gold Pan series with identical 8-1-1 WCHA records.
The Pioneers will have their hands full in tonight’s finale against the quick and pesky Huskies, who pinned Cheverie with the most goals he has allowed since the season-opener Oct. 9 against Vermont.
In playing much better than their 5-6-2 record indicates, the Huskies stormed back from a 4-1 deficit to come within a goal late in the second period.
DU couldn’t relax until freshman defenseman Matt Donovan scored on a semi-breakaway to make it 5-3 with 6:57 to play. The tally came immediately after Cheverie made consecutive great saves at the other end.
“As much offense as we had tonight, they had just as much,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “The big turning point in the game was Marc Cheverie’s save on that flurry. Seven seconds later we put the puck in the net at the other end. That’s the difference, at least in the third period.”
Rakhshani gave the Pioneers a 2-1 lead late in the first period and assisted on Donovan’s clinching tally. Junior wing Anthony Maiani had two assists, and Cheverie made 25 saves.
The all-freshman line of center Shore, Shawn Ostrow and Chris Knowlton also performed well. Knowlton’s first career goal tied it at 6:08 of the first period, with Shore and Ostrow setting up Knowlton’s one-time blast by cycling the puck from the right corner.
“We had three freshmen (forwards) tonight that I thought played great,” said DU senior center Tyler Ruegsegger, who assisted on Martin’s first goal. “They got our team going.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
DU Recap
The Post’s three stars
1. Jesse Martin.
DU junior wing had two goals.
2. Rhett Rakhshani.
Pioneers forward and captain had a goal and an assist.
3. Anthony Maiani.
Two assists, two shots and a plus-2 rating for the DU junior.
What you might have missed
As good as the Pioneers were at even strength, they didn’t get many pucks on goalie Mike Lee during five power plays. DU produced just five shots and went 0-of-5 with the advantage.
Up next
Game 2 series finale tonight, 7 p.m.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
