The Pioneer hockey team gave up its two-point lead and fell to the University of Alaska Anchorage 3-2 in overtime on Saturday, after defeating Alaska 6-2 on Friday.
Despite splitting the weekend’s series, the Pioneers remain No. 1 in the WCHA while North Dakota trails behind only one point.
Head coach George Gwozdecky is still confused.
“The last two minutes of overtime were something to behold,” Gwozdecky said. “I’m still shaking my head, trying to figure out, giving up two-on-ones, guys wide open in front, breakaways, all I can say is, Anchorage did a great job and I’d like to think this will be something that will drive us to be a lot better.”
“It was just uncharacteristic of us,” senior captain J.P. Testwuide said. “In the overtime it just looked like we’ve never been in that position before. It was uncharacteristic because those are the games that we love to play.”
Friday’s easy win, after last weekend’s frustrating and physical series against North Dakota, restored some of the Pioneers’ hopes.
DU dominated Friday’s game, scoring six goals delivered by six different Pioneers, without Gwozdecky.
Assistant coach Steve Miller took over the head coaching duties for the Pioneers when the NCAA announced Gwozdecky violated an NCAA rule that does not allow an ejected coach to communicate with or contact team personnel until a game is completed.
“Tonight (Friday) was a lot better,” said freshman Patrick Wiercioch. “It was good to get that one. We haven’t played well on Fridays in a while, so to get it off to a good start tonight right at the end of the period and then keep it going through the full 60 was a good feeling.”
After a slow start, freshman Luke Salazar capitalized on a power-play, netting the first goal of the night past UAA’s Jon Olthuis with only 75 seconds remaining in the first period.
DU erupted, tallying three goals in the second period by Anthony Maiani, Ostrow and Wiercioch on the power-play.
With less than three minutes remaining, UAA netted their first goal, a power-play goal, past sophomore Marc Cheverie.
With less than three minutes left in the game, junior Brandon Vossberg, assisted by sophomore Dustin Jackson and junior Brian Gifford, extended DU’s lead to 5-1.
Alaska cut Denver’s lead back to three midway though the period, but birthday boy Joe Colbourne rounded the game out 6-2.
Saturday’s game was a much different story.
UAA’s head coach Dave Shyiak scratched two of Alaska’s leading scorers and brought in their alternate goaltender, who seemed to make the difference, allowing only two of the Pioneers’ 32 shots on goal.
“I give Dave Shyiak a lot of credit,” Gwozdecky said. “He wasn’t happy with his top two scorers. He sat them out tonight and he sent a very strong message to his team that he wasn’t going to stand for anything but hard work and effort, and he got just that from his team tonight.”
It seemed as if DU’s offensive momentum from Friday would carry over into Saturday’s game as the Pioneers got off to an early start, leading 2-0 by 8:49 with goals from Gifford and Testwuide, outshooting UAA 14-3.
Alaska cut the lead to one at 10:43, scoring on one of their five power-plays.
Denver had a chance to regain their two-point lead with just over two minutes left in the second period when UAA’s Kevin Clark received a five-minute major penalty for roughing and a game disqualification. DU’s defenseman Chris Nutini sustained a third-degree separation of his shoulder after taking a hard hit to the end boards. Nutini remained on the ice for several minutes before he was assisted off the ice by a trainer and teammate Cody Brookwell and did not return to the game.
Regardless of the five-minute power-play opportunity, which carried into the third period, the Pioneers were still unable to capitalize.
“Time and time again we could not get possession of the puck in the offensive zone or the power-play, to the point where I’m almost feeling like I should decline the power-play,” Gwozdecky said.
The Pioneers went 0-for-9 on the power-play.
The Seawolves battled to tie the game, did just that shorthanded, pushing the game into overtime.
UAA netted the game winner with only 17.5 seconds left in overtime, boosting the Seawolves to 9-11-4, 6-10-4 WCHA, while Denver drops 16-8-3, 12-6-2 WCHA.
The Pioneers are on the road for the next five games, taking on Minnesota- Duluth on Friday and Saturday in Minnesota.
