From: USCHO.comby Dan Myers
On Saturday night Minnesota State defeated the No. 4 DU Pioneers 3-2 to complete their first series sweep over Denver since the 2000-01 season, and their first double play over the Pioneers in Mankato since 1999.
Denver coach George Gwozdecky was impressed with the Mavericks.
“They are a vastly improved team,” Gwozdecky said. “They’re playing smart and with a lot of confidence.”
For the second straight night, MSU led 1-0 after the first period. This time, it was the Mavericks’ power play that put them on the board.
“We needed to score on the power play tonight,” Jutting said. “You’re not going to score five even strength goals like we did last night. We needed to score on the power play to win and we did that.”
The Mavericks took a 2-0 lead 1:11 into the second following a face-off to Mannino’s right. Trevor Bruess won the draw back to R.J. Linder at the point. His wrister was deflected in front by Joel Hanson through the five-hole.
DU pulled back within one just over five minutes later.
Just seconds after a holding penalty to MSU’s Jason Wiley expired, Rhett Rakhshani blasted a shot that caromed off the crossbar. The puck deflected right to Tyler Bozak on the doorstop who shelved the rebound at 6:19.
The goal gave the Pioneers new life, as they played perhaps their most inspired hockey of the weekend. However, with just under five minutes to play in the period, play was stopped for nearly 10 minutes to repair a broken section of glass between the benches.
Less than a minute later, the Mavericks pushed their lead back to two, as Jon Kalinski pounded home a rebound from a scuffle in front at 15:50.
“I don’t think it was bombs away for them at that point [before the stoppage] ,” Jutting said. “But they definitely had the momentum.”
“I thought up until that point, they were controlling the play,” Linder said. “You couldn’t ask for anything better than a goal after that.”
The Pioneers scored a power-play goal of their own to pull back within one at the 13:46 mark of the third. Kyle Ostrow outraced a number of players to a puck dumped into the zone by J.P. Testwuide. Ostrow tapped the puck over Mike Zacharias’ blocker for his 10th goal of the season. Mannino had the second assist, the goaltender’s fourth this season and third against the Mavericks.
“Our play was very substandard last night,” Gwozdecky said. “I think we went from one extreme to the other tonight as far as our effort.
“But when you put yourself in a position where it’s almost must-win, I think at times you’re not quite as relaxed and confident. I think that’s where we’re at right now as a team.”
With just under two minutes to play and a faceoff to Zacharias’ right, Denver called timeout and pulled Mannino. The Pioneers had a couple of quality chances, but were unable to beat the junior netminder, who stopped 18 shots to improve to 12-7-4 this season.
“There were some things tonight where we didn’t execute very well, especially from an offensive standpoint,” Gwozdecky said.
“I thought Denver played a lot better tonight,” Jutting said. “I thought they played with heart and a little bit of desperation.”
Denver (18-8-3, 12-6-0) dropped to five points behind North Dakota for second place in the conference, but remains five points ahead of the Bulldogs and Badgers. DU will host Minnesota at Magness Arena next weekend.
Denver coach George Gwozdecky was impressed with the Mavericks.
“They are a vastly improved team,” Gwozdecky said. “They’re playing smart and with a lot of confidence.”
For the second straight night, MSU led 1-0 after the first period. This time, it was the Mavericks’ power play that put them on the board.
“We needed to score on the power play tonight,” Jutting said. “You’re not going to score five even strength goals like we did last night. We needed to score on the power play to win and we did that.”
The Mavericks took a 2-0 lead 1:11 into the second following a face-off to Mannino’s right. Trevor Bruess won the draw back to R.J. Linder at the point. His wrister was deflected in front by Joel Hanson through the five-hole.
DU pulled back within one just over five minutes later.
Just seconds after a holding penalty to MSU’s Jason Wiley expired, Rhett Rakhshani blasted a shot that caromed off the crossbar. The puck deflected right to Tyler Bozak on the doorstop who shelved the rebound at 6:19.
The goal gave the Pioneers new life, as they played perhaps their most inspired hockey of the weekend. However, with just under five minutes to play in the period, play was stopped for nearly 10 minutes to repair a broken section of glass between the benches.
Less than a minute later, the Mavericks pushed their lead back to two, as Jon Kalinski pounded home a rebound from a scuffle in front at 15:50.
“I don’t think it was bombs away for them at that point [before the stoppage] ,” Jutting said. “But they definitely had the momentum.”
“I thought up until that point, they were controlling the play,” Linder said. “You couldn’t ask for anything better than a goal after that.”
The Pioneers scored a power-play goal of their own to pull back within one at the 13:46 mark of the third. Kyle Ostrow outraced a number of players to a puck dumped into the zone by J.P. Testwuide. Ostrow tapped the puck over Mike Zacharias’ blocker for his 10th goal of the season. Mannino had the second assist, the goaltender’s fourth this season and third against the Mavericks.
“Our play was very substandard last night,” Gwozdecky said. “I think we went from one extreme to the other tonight as far as our effort.
“But when you put yourself in a position where it’s almost must-win, I think at times you’re not quite as relaxed and confident. I think that’s where we’re at right now as a team.”
With just under two minutes to play and a faceoff to Zacharias’ right, Denver called timeout and pulled Mannino. The Pioneers had a couple of quality chances, but were unable to beat the junior netminder, who stopped 18 shots to improve to 12-7-4 this season.
“There were some things tonight where we didn’t execute very well, especially from an offensive standpoint,” Gwozdecky said.
“I thought Denver played a lot better tonight,” Jutting said. “I thought they played with heart and a little bit of desperation.”
Denver (18-8-3, 12-6-0) dropped to five points behind North Dakota for second place in the conference, but remains five points ahead of the Bulldogs and Badgers. DU will host Minnesota at Magness Arena next weekend.
7 comments:
I'm ready to hit the panic button on this team. It's looking so similar to the seasons before hand and what more being swept is really going to hurt us. Whatever the problem is on the team it needs to be corrected now!
Goddard!! What the hell is up with this sweeping picture with the cows?!? Are you trying to exploit my fear of cows with this?!? Punk:)
SWEEP BABY!! SWEEP!! I didn't realize you send brooms with your boys this weekend to give to my boys!! :)
For the record, Gwoz freaked out all night long. Another bench minor. What the hell?!? Also, Mannino whined like a baby all night. Very unimpressed.
Once again, the Mavs simply outplayed your boys all 3 periods. Kick ass series!! :)
Houston we have a problem...
If DU does not sweep Minn this coming weekend you can put a fork in them. This won't be easy because Minny is full of P&V after playing well against UND this weekend.
Perhaps they began the season with the goal of reaching the Frozen Four but perhaps not the expectation. They were in the drivers seat but perhaps they shot their wad in the 1st portion of the season and just don't have it in them to finish it off. We shall see.
If this team isn't in crisis mode yet, they should be. This is no longer just a lapse or speed bump. I read some earlier postings about Gwozdecky and the possibility of his time being up. I think that's a very fair argument. Let's look at the facts: While other teams in the WCHA, most notably ND, Wisc, CC, and MSU, seem to be getting better as the season progresses, DU is regressing. Not simply not improving, they are regressing, getting worse. That's a serious issue that cannot simply be blamed on the choppy schedule, inexperience etc. The buck stops at the top. If the coaches can't figure out why this team can't win in February and March, they need to turn over the reins.
Being in the FF every year is not realistic, due to how competitive NCAA hockey is now, but for DU, a program perenially in the top 10, making the national playoffs every year is not an unrealistic goal.
Back to 03 and a good chunk of 04 and say adios to gwozdecky. i am sure that td's alter ego will run with this.
We need to find out what is up with Trotter before we fire the coaches, sweep Minnesota and win the Frozen Four at the Pepsi Center. Needless to say I haven't been too impressed with how DU has handled the "Trotter Situation."
Whatever is the situation, leaving cryptic messages with the press and then telling them not to pursue the situation due to "privacy concerns" is weak.
Until we get an update on Trotter's status, all other questions about the team would appear to be difficult to answer.
We've had one of the best starts in DU hockey history until New Year's and the recruiting has never been better. I'm very satisfied with the direction of the program, but DU needs a lesson in PR in regards to this latest suspension.
Denver could be in serious trouble, having to play UM this weekend.
During UND's winning streak, the teams that they have beat, have gone on to take at least 3 of 4 points the following games... MTU got 3 of 4-pts from CC, Mankato got 4-pts from SCSU, and now UAA got 3-pts from MTU.
If that holds true, DU is going be in a fight for home ice playoffs.
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