Photo by: Jacob Rokeach
In a series that started out so well, it ended so badly. The Pioneers opened the weekend with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over North Dakota and ended it with a 3-0 loss. In the process, senior J.D. Corbin scored the winning goal in his first game in 30 contests and DU continued its special team woes going 0-11 over the weekend on the power play. With the victory, Denver will have home ice advantage in the first round of the WCHA playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
“I think the biggest thing this week is to straighten out our special teams, make sure those are clicking coming into next week,” said senior Adrian Veideman.
Clicking they will as the Pioneers will host in-state rival Colorado College on Friday and play down in Colorado Springs on Saturday night in the final regular season matches of the season.
Saturday night featured disputed calls by referee Todd Anderson and third time in the last four games that DU has gone without a power play goal.
WCHA leading scorer Ryan Duncan got things going for the Fighting Sioux as he dumped in his 26th goal of the season on the power-play with just a couple minutes remaining in the first period.
Seven minutes into the second period, Rylan Kaip gave UND a 2-0 advantage. Minutes later a questionable call ensued as DU junior Tom May started to fight with Sioux player Kyle Radke and May was the recipient of a couple non-gloved punches from Radke. May was given a 10-minute game misconduct and Radke a simple two-minute roughing penalty. The Sioux took advantage and Duncan found the net for the second time and held on for the 3-0 victory.
“It is always tough when you lose. We got beat by a better team, it is as simple as that. We just got to make sure that we don’t let that happen again,” said Veideman.
Junior goaltender Peter Mannino took the loss in goal for the Pioneers and dropped his record to 8-5-1 on the season.
Friday night displayed more success of getting pucks into the net and a great playoff atmosphere.
North Dakota once again got the early lead as T.J. Oshie put in his 11th of the year to give the Sioux a 1-0 lead. With just seconds remaining in the first period junior Ryan Dingle put in his 20th goal of the season to tie the game 1-1.
In the second period, freshman Tyler Ruegsegger continued to impress as he scored in his 14th of the season and put DU up by one. UND responded with two goals midway through the second period and held onto a 3-2 advantage going into the final frame of play.
Denver was not about to get its fourth straight tie or loss and junior Geoff Paukovich helped secure that with a goal just over two minutes in. Both teams had some great chances in the final minutes of regulation including a North Dakota shot off the post that just missed the net.
As the game went to overtime, you could just tell who wanted it more and it showed as senior J.D. Corbin put in his first goal of the season and DU started the weekend off on the right foot.
“It is unbelievable. It looked like halfway through the game that it was going how it has been going the past month, but we played so hard tonight and once we got the tying goal we were not going to lose the game,” said Paukovich.
Senior Glenn Fisher was in the net for the Pioneers; his record improves to 13-7-2 with the win.
“[It’s a] Very important win for us considering the time of the year. It was a hard fought win. I thought North Dakota played very well,” said Head Coach George Gwozdecky.
North Dakota player Robbie Bina and Paukovich faced each other for the first time since Bina was sidelined for most of the 2004-2005 season after a hit by Paukovich.
“It feels good to contribute, and it feels great to see Robbie out there and see Robbie playing,” said Paukovich.
Paukovich scored no goals in the first 17 games this season and has recorded a point in nine of the last 11 games, including eight goals and nine assists.
“I think just confidence, got one or two around Christmas and you got confidence you kind of feel like you can do anything, I’ve just been getting to the net more and being more cognoscente,” said Paukovich.
Gwozdecky changed things up this weekend when he switched sophomore Patrick Mullen to defense for the first time in his college career.
“I thought he did fine. He’s very mobile. He is a great skater, quick feet and I think it’s just a matter of him gaining more experience and confidence at that position,” said Gwozdecky about Mullen.
The Pioneers have now not swept in their last five series and will look to change that this weekend and take revenge for CC’s sweep earlier this season and capture a share of the Gold Pan trophy.
“Would have I liked to have won both games. Yeah, but you look and say you got to scratch and claw from every inch of the ice in every game. This league is so challenging and so competitive,” said Gwozdecky.
