From: Rocky Mountain Newsby Pat Rooney
Test No. 1 has been passed impressively.
But the University of Denver hockey team certainly cannot rest on either its laurels or momentum this week as it prepares for its third consecutive series against a ranked opponent.
After recording a split at No. 1 Minnesota, the Pioneers will return to Magness Arena on Friday and Saturday to play St. Cloud State, which began the weekend ranked sixth in both national polls.
The series will have significant impact on the national scene and in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings, as the Pioneers trail the second-place Huskies by two points.
"It almost seems like once you finish one tough opponent, the following weekend you've got another tough assignment," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "I think it's what makes this league so difficult. And yet, if you are able to survive this regular season in decent physical and positional shape, it makes you really ready for the postseason. That's the benefit, but while you're doing it, it's extremely difficult and challenging."
The effort at Minnesota kept the Pioneers in fifth place in the all-important PairWise rankings, but they will pick up valuable points for Friday's 1-0 victory when bonuses for quality road wins are added to the PairWise points equation.
DU (18-8-2, 10-6-2 WCHA) can further cement its credentials for the West Regional at the Pepsi Center with a quality performance against the Huskies. DU, which already recorded a split at St. Cloud in the first league series of the season in October, has gone 8-2-0 in its past 10 games against the Huskies.
The Pioneers should expect to move forward when both national polls are released today. Three of the teams ranked ahead of DU - Notre Dame, Maine and New Hampshire - suffered splits against unranked opponents.
ETC.: DU goalie Peter Mannino did not play at Minnesota because of a strained groin but is expected to be ready for the St. Cloud series . . . DU's Ryan Dingle is fourth in the nation with 18 goals despite scoring only two in the past nine games . . . Air Force's Eric Ehn leads the nation with 45 points . . . Mannino (.932) and DU senior Glenn Fisher (.930) are ranked fifth and eighth, respectively, in the nation in saves percentage . . . Three of the five goals scored by DU junior Geoff Paukovich have been game winners.
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