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After missing the last three games with a calf injury, junior Marc Cheverie returned Friday night to edge out the Fighting Sioux and lead Denver to a 1-0 victory in Magness Arena.
“The injury wasn’t a problem,” Cheverie said.
The No. 3 Pioneers improve their record 7-3-1, 5-1-1 WCHA, while the No. 2Sioux drop 7-3-1, 5-3-1 WCHA.
Most of the game may have been without score, but was certainly not without action. In the first game of the traditionally physically intense series, the pressure was on from the starting minutes.
“I thought it was typical of what people would expect,” said Denver’s head coach George Gwozdecky. “It was emotional at times, chippy at times, very physical.”
Cheverie blocked all 34 shots, while UND’s Brad Eidsness stopped 33.
“It was a heck of a battle between the goaltenders tonight and ours won,” Gwozdecky said.
The Sioux had a good scoring opportunity in the first period on a shot just seven minutes into the game, but Cheverie gloved it down before it could go in.
Following the end of the scoreless first period, fists began to fly and both coaches had to get on the ice to break up the fights.
“They like to stir things up. Our job is not to get sucked into that,” said Cheverie.
At 10:07 in the second period, Denver’s freshman Drew Shore put the Pioneers on the board, assisted by Joe Colborne and Anthony Maiani on the power-play.
The Pioneers thought they made it 2-0 just five minutes later when it seemed as if Kyle Ostrow knocked the puck in the net as he crashed into it, pushing the net out of place.
After much review, the goal was not allowed because the view of the play was unclear if the puck crossed the line before the net came off.
The Fighting Sioux battled to tie the game, outshooting the Pioneers 16-6 in the third period, but Cheverie blocked every attempt.
This was Cheverie’s fourth shutout of the season. He leads the nation in shutouts, save percentage and goals allowed, and has not allowed a power-play goal in 33 chances this season.
DU will host UND again tomorrow. The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. MST. Follow the game live at DUClarion.com.
