LetsGoDU

Sweep The Gophers Week

Paukovich's Lone Goal Stops Gophers

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(left) DU center Geoff Paukovich scores a power-play goal against Minnesota sieve Kellen Briggs during the second period on Friday night, in Minneapolis. Minnesota's David Fischer is at lower right. Denver won 1-0. (AP / Paul Battaglia)
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From: Denver Post

by Mike Chambers

DU Junior Geoff Paukovich scored the winner with a power-play goal 10:04 into the second period. From atop the crease, the Englewood native redirected a snap shot from freshman Keith Seabrook past Gophers goalie and Colorado Springs native Kellen Briggs.

Paukovich's fourth goal of the season was his third game-winner.

"All we try to do on the second power play is lob pucks in on net, and I was lucky enough to get a stick on it," Paukovich said. "It was a great shot by Seabs."

DU Goaltender Glenn Fisher, who will likely play in today's finale of the two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series because of the groin injury suffered by junior Peter Mannino, is probably one of the few goalies to produce shutouts at Wisconsin and at Minnesota in the same season. He got the 2-0 win against the Badgers on Nov. 10.

"The crowd is great here, just like Wisconsin," Fisher said. "I feed off it. It's a fun atmosphere to play in. Tonight, the guys blocked a lot of shots, and the other ones I was able to see. And we got lucky off a couple posts."

Minnesota enters today's game having scored just three goals in its past four games. But Gophers coach Don Lucia said that has more to do with playing tough goalies than being in an offensive funk.

"It was a hard-fought game. Both goaltenders were very good, and the difference was that they got one on the power play," Lucia said. "It was the type of game I expected. Denver is a good hockey team; they're good defensively and when they have the lead they're hard to play against."