In four games without sophomore winger Beau Bennett, the University of Denver failed to produce a victory and combined for just seven goals (1.75 per game).
With Bennett, the 2010 No. 1 draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, DU is 4-1 and averaging 5.2 goals per game.
Coincidence? Probably not. Bennett seems to make a good offensive team a great one. DU has scored 15 goals in the last two games Bennett has been in the lineup.
He missed the Oct. 28-29 series at Michigan Tech and the Nov. 4-5 set against Minnesota-Duluth because of a wrist injury.
“Arguably, Beau was our hottest player before he got hurt,” said DU coach George Gwozdecky. “That line that he was on with Nick Shore was really playing well. Over the couple weekends (he missed), we had a couple combinations with Nick. But you can’t replace a guy of a quality like Beau Bennett. He’s back in the lineup and he makes a big difference. We’re certainly glad to have him back.”
Bennett scored the game’s first goal in DU’s 5-4 victory over Colorado College on Saturday, completing a terrific give-and-go play with senior Luke Salazar. In five games, Bennett has seven points (two goals) and a plus-4 rating.
Close call.
DU goaltender Adam Murray made 33 saves against CC but allowed the game’s final three goals, turning a 5-1 rout into an edge-of- your-seat finish.
Murray, a junior, has a career save percentage of .885 but a career-best .904 this season. His 3.32 goals-against average is slightly better than his career figure of 3.52.
“Everyone, including Adam, knew he wasn’t on his A-game, but he kept battling and kept battling, and that’s a great sign of maturity, for me, to see that,” Gwozdecky said about Saturday’s game. “Not once when the puck went by him did he give that (negative) body language.”
Footnotes.
DU junior center and co-captain Drew Shore is tied for ninth nationally in points per game (1.44) and Colorado College teammates- brothers Rylan and Jaden Schwartz are tied for 10th (1.43). Rylan Schwartz has seven goals in seven games and is second nationally in goals per game. . . . Minnesota senior goalie Kent Patterson, who is among the nation’s leaders in record (10-2), goals-against average (1.66) and save percentage (.935), is an Avalanche draftee.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
Front Range rankings
1. Denver (4-3-2, 3-2-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association). Last week: Beat visiting Colorado College 5-4. This week: Hosts Nebraska-Omaha (6-5-1, 5-2-1 WCHA) on Friday and Saturday. Comment: Nebraska-Omaha’s first visit to DU’s Magness Arena as a league opponent should fan the flame of what could be a burgeoning rivalry.
2. Colorado College (5-2, 3-2 WCHA). Last week: Lost at Denver 5-4. This week: Hosts Wisconsin (5-6-1, 4-5-1 WCHA) on Friday and Saturday. Comment: The Tigers played five consecutive road games and now host five of their next seven.
3. Air Force (5-4-2, 4-2-1 Atlantic Hockey Association). Last week: Lost at Rochester Tech 3-1 and at Mercyhurst 3-2. This week: Idle (next up is Connecticut in a Nov. 25-26 series). Comment: The Falcons had a 30-percent power play last weekend (3-of-10) but failed to score an even-strength goal.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
