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After two periods of tight play, the University of Denver Pioneers gave up their two-point lead, and Colorado College’s Mike Testwuide tied the game with just 40 seconds of play remaining on a penalty shot.
“It’s disappointing as hell,” said DU head coach George Gwozdecky.
In game two of the home-and-home series, the Tigers (10-4-2, 7-3-2) capitalized on multiple Denver (10-4-2, 8-2-2) breakdowns and made a huge comeback.
“Those kinds of things killed us,” said DU captain Rhett Rakhshani.
The Pioneers took an early lead when Kyle Ostrow scored on a pass from Rakhshani, just 68 seconds into the game.
But the Tigers were quick even the game when Brian McMillin scored at 2:21 unassisted.
Then, a controversial goal gave Colorado College their only lead of the game. Seven minutes into the game, one of Denver’s top defensemen and leading scorers, Patrick Wiercioch took a hit and eventually lead to Testwuide’s first goal.
“The officials felt that we had possession of the puck, and as we had possession of the puck, they looked at Wiercioch, who was laying on the ice and he seemed to be getting up to his knees,” Gwozdecky said.
Gwozdecky said because they thought he was getting up, they did not blow the whistle.
“When we turned the puck over and they gained possession he went back down again and they couldn’t blow the whistle at that point,” he said. “That was their explanation.”
The hit took Wiercioch out for the remainder of the game.
With CC’s Nick Dineen in the penalty box for hooking, Denver’s Jesse Martin capitalized on the power-play, tying the game.
At 12:52 into the second period, Rakhshani gave the Pioneers a 3-2 lead, assisted by Tyler Ruegsegger and Matt Donovan, scored on the power-play, with Nate Prosser in the box for elbowing.
Rakhshani scored again at 15:17, this time shorthanded and unassisted on a breakaway to boost Denver 4-2 going into the final period.
Testwuide scored his second goal of the night at 3:14 in the third period, shorthanded and unassisted on the breakaway.
“At that point, the game started to change,” Gwozdecky said.
Two minutes later, two penalties were called on Denver’s Matt Glasser and William Wrenn for slashing and holding, but the Pioneers were able to kill off two full minutes of a two-man advantage.
With 40 seconds remaining in the third period and an empty CC net, the Tigers were awarded a penalty shot after Denver’s Matt Donovan lifted up the back of the net, causing the whistle to blow before what would have been a goal for CC’s William Rapuzzi.
Testwuide was given the shot and scored backhanded for a hat trick, and pushing the game into overtime.
“You’ve got to give credit to CC for making a great comeback,” Gwozdecky said. “We had our chances, but so did they.”
The Pioneers outshot CC 36-32.
Denver continues to lead the WCHA with 18 points, just ahead of Colorado College’s 16.
The in-state rivals will meet again in March to determine the winner of the Gold Pan Trophy. Denver needs to take another three points from CC to gain posession of the trophy.
The Pioneers will travel to take on the University of Minnesota-Duluth next weekend, and the Tigers will visit St. Cloud State University.
Wiercioch was invited to the final tryout camp for the Canadian World Junior team, early last week, however, pending Saturday’s injury his status is known.
“Obviously he could not come back,” Gwozdecky said. “We’re hoping that over the course of the next four days we can get him rehabbed and strengthen his injury so that he can participate next Friday night and then accept the invitation to the Canadian World Junior Evaluation Camp.”
