Not only could it have been the final game of the University of Denver’s season, it could have been the final game for DU stars such as Jason Zucker, Drew Shore and — though he didn’t play — Beau Bennett. The NHL teams that hold their draft rights might have given each a quick call.
A loss to the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday night, and the Pioneers would have been swept out of the WCHA playoffs and, most likely, forfeited any realistic chance of making the NCAA Tournament.
But an inspired play by Zucker — who had just returned from the dressing room with a right leg injury — helped DU survive another day. Zucker’s steal and sensational pass to linemate Luke Salazar led to the tie-breaking third-period goal in the Pioneers’ 3-1 victory over the Badgers at Magness Arena.
The win sets up tonight’s showdown with the Badgers at Magness, where the winner will get a ticket to this weekend’s WCHA Final Five tournament in St. Paul, Minn.
“Hopefully we’ll get a lot (of sleep),” said Zucker, a second-round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2010. “I think we knew the goals would come. We had a lot of good chances to that point, and we just needed one to get going I think.”
The Pioneers toughed out the victory despite losing captain Drew Shore in the first period to a major penalty and game-misconduct for targeting the head of Wisconsin’s Keegan Meuer. Shore essentially cross-checked Meuer to the face, drawing the automatic major call. He will be eligible to play tonight.
“The good thing with Drew Shore is, he should be fresh for (tonight). He should have good legs. That’s the way we’re looking at it,” Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky said.
Just like Friday’s series opener, this one went to the third period scoreless. But DU’s Nate Dewhurst broke the deadlock with a goal at 4:04, the Pioneers’ first of the series. Dewhurst found a loose puck in the crease and finally solved Badgers goalie Joel Rumpel, who had yet to allow a goal in the series.
Wisconsin’s Justin Schultz tied it up at 6:54, and things looked bleak for DU when Zucker left clutching his right knee after taking a hit into the back boards. He returned a few shifts later, however.
The game-winning sequence started when Nick Shore stole a puck in the neutral zone and fed Zucker, with Salazar skating down the left side. He one-timed Zucker’s perfect pass past Rumpel at 12:53.
“I thought the urgency and desire was there for us tonight,” Gwozdecky said. “It was 0-0 going to the third, like (Friday) night, and yet I thought in the third period we stayed with our game and our blueprint and it was effective. I’m very proud of our team because it was difficult.”
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
DU Recap
The Post’s three stars
1. Jason Zucker. DU forward assisted on game-winner despite playing hurt and had six shots on net.
2. Nate Dewhurst. Light-scoring DU forward scored a big one.
3. Justin Schultz.
Speedy Badgers defenseman scored team’s only goal.
What you might have missed
Wisconsin had a goal disallowed in the first period.
Up next
Game 3 of the WCHA playoff series, 7:07 p.m. tonight.
