Having lost two overtime games and another in the final minute of the third period to account for its three setbacks, ninth-ranked University of Denver clung to a one-goal lead late in the third period Friday night. The Pioneers desperately desired breathing room from a Colorado College squad itching to snap a 13-game losing streak dating to last season.
DU’s power play couldn’t get it done, going 0-of-3 in the second period — including a five-minute checking-from-behind major on the Tigers’ Alex Roos — and the Pioneers’ 5-on-5 play slowed after a fast start.
Denver’s short-handed game, however, did the trick. Avalanche draftee Will Butcher, a junior defenseman, one-timed a perfect circle-to-circle feed from senior captain Grant Arnold high in CC’s net at 17:46, doubling the advantage.
The short-handed goal proved to be the difference in Denver’s 5-3 victory at Magness Arena, in the opener of a home-and-home Gold Pan/National Collegiate Hockey Conference series. The Pioneers (4-3, 1-0 NCHC) outshot the Tigers (0-9, 0-3) 38-23 but nearly blew a 4-1 third-period lead.
Shortly after Butcher’s short-handed goal, junior wing Trevor Moore lifted a short-side wrister past CC goalie Tyler Marble to allow DU to take its 4-1 lead into the second intermission. CC never quit, showing great character in scoring two goals within the first eight minutes of the third.
The Tigers produced 10 of the 19 shots in the final frame, but Denver’s Matt Marcinew put the game away with an empty-net goal with less than six seconds to play.
“In the third period, we tried to get too cute, we turned too many pucks over and they started coming back at us,” DU coach Jim Montgomery said. “I was impressed with their stick-to-itiveness.”
The series moves to Colorado Springs’ Broadmoor World Arena on Saturday night. DU will retain the Gold Pan with a victory. The Pioneers went 4-0 against CC last season, and the traveling trophy must be won outright.
Evan Janssen gave DU a 1-0 lead 6:25 in the game, and the Tigers’ Luc Gerdes tied it at 8:13. Super sophomore Danton Heinen opened the scoring in the Pioneers’ 3-0 second period.
Gerdes scored his second goal of the game 3:36 into the third period, and Trey Bradley beat junior goalie Evan Cowley at 7:56 as the Tigers clawed back.
Coaches from both benches were involved in a screaming and finger-pointing sequence following Roos’ illegal check on DU defenseman Matt VanVoorhis who, after lying on the ice, skated slowly to the Pioneers’ bench with help from the trainer. After the game, he was diagnosed with a concussion.
According to Montgomery, a CC assistant coach accused VanVoorhis of diving. First-year DU assistant Tavis MacMillan got involved in the conversation, and it became heated.
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or @mikechambers
