COLORADO SPRINGS — Late in the third period Friday night, the Colorado College student section chanted “overrated, overrated,” en route to a happy ending at the World Arena.
Based on the national polls and league standings, the University of Denver is not overrated.
It just seems like it when the Pioneers play CC.
The 20th-ranked Tigers upset No. 2 Denver for the second consecutive time, using a fast start to win 3-2 before a sellout crowd of 7,571.
The Pioneers, who blew a chance to clinch retention of the Gold Pan and move back into first place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, have lost just three times in their last 18 games — twice to CC.
Tonight, the teams complete their four-game, regular-season series at Magness Arena. CC will reclaim the Gold Pan with a win or tie. DU, which beat the Tigers 4-1 on Nov. 5 at home, will keep the traveling trophy by forging a series split.
The Tigers (16-12-1, 10-9 WCHA) have outscored the Pioneers (16-6-5, 12-4-3) 12-4 in the past two meetings.
Like Game 2, a 9-2 CC romp in this building Nov. 6, the Tigers territorially dominated Game 3. DU captain Kyle Ostrow scored a power-play goal with 37 seconds remaining and goalie Adam Murray on the bench for a sixth attacker to create a deceiving final score.
CC took a 3-1 lead into the third period, getting the game’s fourth goal just after DU failed to convert on a power play. Defenseman Gabe Guentzel’s three-line pass to Alexander Krushelnyski led to the freshman’s breakaway goal at 14:58 of the second period. Guentzel’s pass was from behind CC’s end line to DU’s blue line.
The Pioneers, who missed the net on 13 of their 37 shot attempts through two periods, got within 2-1 at 4:54 of the second period. Drew Shore produced his third goal and fifth point against CC this year with a skilled redirection from beside the net.
DU hardly looked like the country’s second-ranked team in the first period. The Pioneers attempted 15 shots in the opening frame but missed the net on seven of them. Defensively, they made poor clearing passes, and several defensemen tried to skate the puck out through the slot under pressure. Twice, CC created a turnover and a scoring opportunity.
“We were very poor with the puck on our own zone in the first period and caused ourselves all kinds of problems,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “Eventually you’re going to break down, and we did.”
CC forwards Archie Skalbeck and William Rapuzzi scored at 13:18 and 14:14 of the first period. Skalbeck banked a rebound off Murray from the end line, and Rapuzzi ripped a nice wrist shot off the crossbar and behind Murray from the right circle dot.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
DU Recap
The Post’s three stars
1. Alexander Krushelnyski.
The CC freshman wing from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway.
2. William Rapuzzi.
Sophomore scored the Tigers’ second goal 56-seconds after the first goal.
3. Joe Howe.
CC goalie made 26 saves.
What you might have missed
DU senior center Jesse Martin, who is recovering from a broken neck, watched the first period from the press box and was interviewed in the CBS College Sports studio during the first intermission. His parents also were at the game.
Up next
CC visits DU at Magness Arena, 7 p.m. tonight.
