Leave it to the Shore boys to help dig the University of Denver out of an uncomfortable hole.
The 10th-ranked Pioneers, who made national news Friday by losing to a team that entered Magness Arena 1-21-1, earned some redemption Saturday night with a 5-2 victory to split the nonleague series against Alabama-Huntsville.
Brothers Nick and Drew Shore, who were born in Denver, combined to produce DU’s first two goals, and tallies from John Lee, Scott Mayfield and Shawn Ostrow late in the second period blew open what was a tight 2-1 game.
The Shores, who center the top two lines, each had a team-high four shots. Sophomore Nick scored 1:55 into the game and junior Drew added a power play goal seven minutes later. DU led 5-1 heading into the third period.
“We obviously didn’t want to lose one this weekend, but obviously we responded pretty well,” Drew Shore said. “The weekend is what it is, but it’s nice to get one tonight.”
The Pioneers (11-8-3) finished their nonleague schedule 5-3, and they have 14 games remaining in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play.
Because of Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Chargers, DU must either finish extraordinarily strong or win the WCHA tournament to make a fifth consecutive appearance in the 16-team NCAA Tournament.
The Pioneers fell from 14th to a three-way tie for 20th in the PairWise Rankings (PWR) after Friday’s loss. They climbed to 18th after earning the weekend split. The top 11-15 PWR teams will get at-large NCAA Tournament bids after conference tournament champions collect automatic bids.
“I think sweating is part of this team’s DNA,” said DU coach George Gwozdecky, whose team is 5-5 in its last 10 games. “At this point of our season, we get back into league play and you really have to think, ‘OK boys, from all the things we’ve gone through, all the things we’ve learned, good and bad, enough is enough.’ We really have to concentrate on getting into a consistent pattern where we give ourselves a chance to win every night. And tonight we did that, and all we can do is build on that.”
DU again played without defenseman John Ryder (knee), defenseman David Makowski (upper-body injury), wings Beau Bennett (wrist) and Jason Zucker (rest from U.S. world junior team duty), and goalie Sam Brittain (knee).
Junior goalie Adam Murray, who served as freshman Juho Olkinuora’s backup Friday, started Game 2 — his first action since suffering a groin injury Nov. 19. Murray made 22 saves and helped keep the Chargers scoreless on the power play (0-of-3).
“Adam Murray, it was great to see him compete as hard as he did,” Gwozdecky said. “When we didn’t play very well in front of him, I thought he was really good.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
DU Recap
The Post’s three stars
1. Shawn Ostrow. Goal and an assist for the DU junior forward.
2. Drew Shore. Power-play goal.
3. Scott Mayfield. Goal and was terrific defensively.
What you might have missed
Goal by defenseman John Lee was shot from the center line.
Up next
Vs. Bemidji State, Friday.
Alabama-Huntsville 1 0 1 — 2
Denver 2 3 0 — 5
First period — 1, Denver, N. Shore 5 (Ostrow, LaLeggia), 1:55. 2, Denver, D. Shore 13 (Loney, LaLeggia), 9:44 (pp). 3, Alabama-Huntsville, Cseter 3 (unassisted), 16:27. Penalties — Tabrum, DU (charging), 2:23; Easton, UAH (tripping), 8:34; Vanderlugt, UAH (tripping), 17:27.
Second period — 3, Denver, Lee 3 (unassisted), 12:50. 4, Denver, Mayfield 2 (Salazar, Loney), 16:04. 6, Denver, Ostrow 8 (Didier), 19:58. Penalties — Didier, DU (interference), :51; Geoffrion, UAH (boarding), 5:19.
Third period — Alabama-Huntsville, Webley 1 (Reid, Vanderlugt), 2:05. Penalties — Tabrum, DU (cross checking), 2:53; Roy, UAH (cross checking), 2:53; Roy, UAH (10-misconduct), 2:53; Mayfield, DU (interference), 17:21.
Shots — UAH 5-5-14 — 24. DU 17-9-8 — 34. Power plays — UAH 0 of 3. DU 1 of 3. Goalies — UAH, Saunders (2-16-1) 26 shots-21 saves (40:00), Groh 8-8 (20:00). DU, Murray (5-2-1) 24-22. A — 5,123.
