During the second intermission Friday night, University of Denver coach George Gwozdecky complained that his team’s timing was poor. Indeed, the No. 2-ranked Pioneers weren’t executing well, a problem exacerbated by failing to realize the time.
Twice within a brief second-period stretch against Minnesota, DU trudged through back-to-back power plays before allowing breakaway bids from Gophers coming out of the penalty box.
Goalie Marc Cheverie had his head in the game, however, and DU’s top line awoke from a deep slumber in the third period to lead the Pioneers to a 3-1 victory at Magness Arena.
All four goals were scored in the third period, and each of DU’s tallies came from the unit that contributed 45 of 87 goals coming into the game.
Senior center Tyler Ruegsegger produced a highlight-reel goal 55 seconds into the third, and sophomore Joe Colborne doubled the lead at 11:37. Colborne’s one-time blast from atop the crease came off a nifty behind-the-net pass from Rhett Rakh- shani, after the hard-working Ruegsegger kept the play alive from the side boards.
“Coming out in the third period, enough was enough, and I had to do something to help this team get going,” said Ruegsegger, who beat a defenseman wide, drove through the crease and tucked the puck past goalie Alex Kangas (28 saves). “I think our whole line did that. We came out and decided we weren’t going to be denied.”
Rakhshani added his team-leading 18th goal with 1:21 to play — just 27 seconds after the Gophers got a fortunate bounce off the end boards to solve Cheverie for the first time in four games to make it 2-1.
Cheverie, who entered the game as the only goalie to ever blank the Gophers in three consecutive games, was sensational.
“When the guys are playing like that, you just know that the next shot is the game’s biggest shot — it’s a one-shot game,” said Cheverie (44 saves). “You just have to stay focused and not let that affect your play. Playing goalie is kind of like being a golfer. It’s you against the course.”
The course was treacherous in the first 40 minutes for DU, which takes a season-high five-game winning streak into tonight’s series finale.
“You saw the Ruegsegger-Rakh- shani-Colborne line that were virtually invisible the first 40 minutes start from the very first shift of the third period with a great, relentless and determined effort by Tyler Ruegsegger to give us that lift,” Gwozdecky said. “And Marc Cheverie was, as he has been for us, outstanding. . . . The only goal you score on him is a goal where it hits the stanchion behind the net, changes direction and he doesn’t have a chance.”
Both teams went 0-of-5 on the power play. DU generated only two shots in 8:57 of man-advantage time and allowed Ryan Flynn and Zach Budish to spring free on breakaways out of the penalty box. Flynn shot wide and Budish’s forehand bid was stopped by Cheverie.
“When you get two breakaway chances, you got to think you’ll score on one of them,” Minnesota co-captain Tony Lucia said. “To not be able to score those — especially since we’re so snake-bitten against (Cheverie) — you start thinking if we’ll ever get anything behind him.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
DU RECAP
The Post’s three stars
1. Marc Cheverie.
DU goalie (44 saves) just missed his fourth consecutive shutout over Minnesota.
2. Tyler Ruegsegger.
The DU center had two points, four shots and was plus-3 in the third period.
3. Anthony Maiani.
The winger had six shots and was DU’s best skater from start to finish.
What you might have missed
Former DU equipment manager Lee Greseth is in his first year with the Gophers, serving in the same capacity.
Up next
Game 2 finale, tonight at Magness Arena, 7 p.m.
