Western Collegiate Hockey Association
DU's Peter Mannino set a new school record for career shutouts with 14 with a 1-0 win at MTU on Feb. 29 |
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Colorado College Downs MSU Friday to Close in on at Least a Share of WCHA Title; Pioneers, Badgers Gain Key Road Victories; UM Earns Tie at UAA
March 1, 2008
MADISON, Wisc. - The No. 4-ranked and Colorado College Tigers (24-8-1, 19-5-1 WCHA), behind a pair of goals from center Chad Rau and a four-point night from defenseman Jack Hillen, overcame an early deficit to score five unanswered goals on Friday (Feb. 29) night and power past visiting Minnesota State (16-13-4, 10-11-4 WCHA), 5-2, before a crowd of 7,052 at Colorado Springs World Arena and move ever closer to clinching at least a share of the conference's regular season championship and MacNaughton Cup.
The Tigers, who improved to 15-1-0 on home ice this season, can clinch at least a share of the title on Saturday with either another victory over the Mavericks or a loss by North Dakota. Minnesota State, which opened a quick 2-0 advantage over CC with first period goals from right winger Kael Mouillierat at 0:48 and Mick Berge at 13:42, remains tied for fifth.
Elsewhere around the league on Friday evening, both Denver and Wisconsin earned key road victories while Minnesota skated to an overtime tie. The Pioneers won 1-0 at Michigan Tech, the Badgers won 2-1 at St. Cloud State, and the Golden Gophers played to a 2-2 draw at Alaska Anchorage.
At John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton on Friday night, visiting and No. 7-ranked Denver (22-10-1, 16-8-1 WCHA) kept their title hopes alive with a 1-0 shutout victory over Michigan Tech (11-17-5, 7-14-4 WCHA) before 2,253, two points that moved the Pioneers into a share of second place heading into Saturday's schedule. The lone goal in the contest came from Pioneers' right winger Dustin Jackson on a power-play at 19:47 of the second period while goaltender Peter Mannino, who earned his fifth shutout of the season with 21 saves, moved past Gerry Powers (1966-69) for the all-time lead at DU with 14 shutouts. Mannino also moved into a tie for third on DU's all-time wins list with Stephen Wagner (1996-2000) at 59.
Before a sellout crowd of 6,075 at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud on Friday evening, visiting and No. 13/14-ranked Wisconsin (15-13-7, 11-11-5 WCHA) fashioned a 2-1 victory over host and No. 12/13-ranked St. Cloud State (16-14-3, 11-12-2 WCHA), receiving a power-play goal from defenseman Davis Drewiske at 0:17 of the second period, the eventual game-winner from center Ben Street just 1:01 later - at 1:18 of the second - and two assists from Michael Davies. The Badgers outshot the Huskies, 34-15, and also gained the head-to-head tie-breaker advantage over SCSU by virtue of their third straight win in the series. For the Huskies, right winger Ryan Lasch had a power-play goal at 4:03 of the first period while Jase Weslosky had 32 stops between the pipes.
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And at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage on Feb. 29, host Alaska Anchorage (7-18-8, 3-18-6 WCHA) battled back from a two-goal second period deficit to gain a 2-2 overtime tie against No. 17-ranked Minnesota (13-13-9, 7-11-7 WCHA) as center Paul Crowder scored at 19:23 of the second and right winger Ken Selby netted the game-tying goal at 14:02 of the third - his first of the season. The Golden Gophers, who kept their hopes alive for a home playoff berth, received both goals off the stick of defenseman Derek Peltier. In goal, Jon Olthuis had 31 saves for UAA while for UM Alex Kangas had 26.
As a result of Friday play, Colorado College (25 gp, 39 points) owns a six-point lead in the race for the MacNaughton Cup over No. 2/3-ranked North Dakota (21-8-2, 16-7-1 WCHA, 33 points) and Denver (25 gp, 33 points). Wisconsin (27 gp, 27 points) has a three-point advantage in fourth place, while Minnesota State (25 gp, 24 points) and St. Cloud State (25 gp, 24 points) are tied for fifth. No. 15-ranked Minnesota Duluth (12-12-6, 8-11-5 WCHA) and Minnesota (25 gp, 21 points) are tied for seventh, Michigan Tech (25 gp, 18 points) is ninth, and Alaska Anchorage (27 gp, 12 points) is 10th.
On Saturday (March 1), North Dakota and Minnesota Duluth open their two-game weekend series with a 2:07 pm CT face-off at the DECC, while the Denver at Michigan Tech, Wisconsin at St. Cloud State and Minnesota at Alaska Anchorage series will all conclude with 7:07 pm (local time) face-offs.
Looking ahead to the final weekend of the regular season - Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 - there will be four WCHA series. Colorado College and Denver play a home-and-home set, North Dakota hosts St. Cloud State, Minnesota entertains Minnesota Duluth, and Minnesota State hosts Michigan Tech. Both Wisconsin and Alaska Anchorage will be idle.
This Week in the WCHA
Results of Tuesday, February 26: Nebraska-Omaha 4 at Minnesota State 2 (nc).
Results of Friday, February 29: Denver 1 at Michigan Tech 0
Wisconsin 2 at St. Cloud State 1
Minnesota State 2 at Colorado College 5
Minnesota 2 at Alaska Anchorage 2 ot
Games for Saturday, March 1: North Dakota at Minnesota Duluth, 2:07 pm CT
Denver at Michigan Tech, 7:07 pm ET
Wisconsin at St. Cloud State, 7:07 pm CT
Minnesota State at Colorado College, 7:07 pm MT
Minnesota at Alaska Anchorage, 7:07 pm AT.
Games for Sunday, March 2: North Dakota at Minnesota Duluth, 2:07 pm CT.