LetsGoDU

CarleForHobey.com Picks up 5 Assists

Box Score

The Hobey Baker race just got a lot more interesting as Matt Carle tallied five assists against the Mavericks in a 7-4 victory in Magness Arena. Five of DU's goals came on the Power Play as the Pioneers won a crucial game and moved into a three way tie for first place.

.

The Pioneers extended their season-best winning streak to six games with a win against Minnesota State tonight at Magness Arena. Carle increased his point total to a WCHA-leading 45 (11 g, 34 a) while sophomore center Paul Stastny tied a career-high with four points (2 g, 2 a).

The Pioneers continued to have success on their WCHA-best power-play unit, going 5-for-9 on the man advantage. DU junior goaltender Glenn Fisher picked up his eighth win of the season and stopped 20.

"It was a very physical game tonight, but the good thing is that we got two points," DU Head Coach George Gwozdecky said. "Our guys are starting to do the little things better with more consistency, like blocking shots, which is critical for us at this point."

A fast-paced first period saw both teams combine for eight goals, including five power-play tallies, with DU setting a season high for goals in a period in taking a 5-3 lead into the first intermission. Carle totaled four assists in the first period, helping the Pioneers go 3-for-4 on the power play in the opening frame.

DU took a 2-0 lead in the contest, scoring both of its goals 30 seconds apart. Sophomore center Geoff Paukovich beat goaltender Dan Tormey high to the stick side on a slap shot on the power play at 7:07 before Stastny's wrap-around goal from Carle put the Pioneers ahead 2-0 at 7:37 of the first period.

Carle assisted on each of DU's final three goals of the period, including power-play scores by freshman defenseman Chris Butler at 12:01 and by senior left wing Gabe Gauthier at 13:45, to put the Pioneers ahead 5-3 at the first intermission. DU junior right wing J.D. Corbin also notched an even-strength goal at 12:44 by skating past MSU defenseman Jon Dubel down the left side to the front of the net, where he slide the puck past Tormey for the score.

The second period remained scoreless until Stastny's power-play goal from Carle at 16:37 extended the Pioneers' lead to 6-3.

The Pioneers scored once more in the third period on sophomore left wing Ryan Dingle's power-play goal at 16:19 with the assist going to Gauthier.

Denver finished the game with a 30-to-24 advantage in shots. The Mavericks' Tormey allowed five goals on 10 shots before being replaced 13:45 into the first period by Chris Clark, who allowed two goals on 20 shots. DU is still on the outside looking in in the playoff hunt, but like Matt Carle they bserved notice on Friday night.