University of Minnesota Athletics
Men's Hockey Struggles in 6-2 Loss at Denver
2/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The Golden Gophers jumped out to the game's first lead but the Pioneers responded just 28 seconds later with their first goal. Minnesota struck first at 2:55 of the opening period with the fourth line combining for the goal. Jon Waibel gained possession in the offensive zone and threw the puck at the net. The puck deflected off Andy Sertich's skate in front of the net and sat in the crease for Jake Fleming to knock in past DU goaltender Adam Berkhoel for his sixth goal of the season.
Denver responded at 3:23 on a breakaway goal by Jeff Drummond. With assists from Max Bull and Matt Carle, Drummond skated in alone and beat UM goaltender with a shot to the stick side.
The Pioneers took the lead for good at 12:14 on Connor James' ninth goal of the season. James skated down the righ side of the ice and fired a wrist shot from the right circle at a sharp angle. The shot fooled Briggs as the puck skidded past him on the far side.
The Golden Gophers had a fair share of scoring chances in the first period and out-shot DU, 9-4.
The Pioneers broke the game open in the second period with two goals in the first six minutes of the stanza. Denver gained the two-goal lead at 2:14 on Luke Fulghum's 10th goal of the season. Fulghum took a pass from Brett Skinner and beat Briggs to the glove side from the right circle. Following the goal, Briggs was pulled from the game in favor of junior Justin Johnson.
The Maroon and Gold appeared to cut the advantage to one less than a minute later, but the Minnesota goal was ruled to have been kicked into the DU net by Sertich.
The Pioneers made the score 4-1 at 5:07 of the second period when Gabe Gauthier beat Johnson to the stick side with a wrist shot from the left circle.
Minnesota out-shot Denver, 13-11, in the second period, for a two- period advantage of 22-15 on the shot board.
The Golden Gophers cut the lead to two at 3:11of the third period on the power play on Thomas Vanek's team-leading 19th goal of the season and his first since Jan. 23 vs. North Dakota. Troy Riddle threw puck at the net with Vanek standing on the doorstep. Vanek shot once, grabbed his rebound and poked the puck in low on Berkhoel's glove side to make the score 4-2. Riddle and Matt Koalska earned assists on the play. Vanek's goal was the 50th of his career and moved him within two points of 100 for his career (50-48--98).
With his helper, Riddle moved into sole possession of 17th place on Minnesota's career points list with 164 (75-89--164). He also moved into a tie for 24th with Mike Polich (1971-75) on the career assists list with 89. Koalska stands in a tie for 26th place with Bill Baker (1975-79) with 88 career assists.
It was all Denver from there as the Pioneers added two insurance goals in the latter half of the period to hand Minnesota its worst loss to DU since falling 7-3 on Nov. 13, 1981. James picked up his second goal of the night at 12:28, gaining possession behind the Gopher defense on a clearing attempt by Greg Keith. James skated in and beat Johnson via the five-hole.
The Pioneers wrapped up the scoring at 13:10 when Johnson failed to cover the puck in the high slot, allowing Brett Skinner to skate around the sprawling goaltender for the open-net goal. The lamplighter marked Skinner's game-high third point of the night (1-2-- 3).
Denver out-shot the Golden Gophers, 13-7, in the third period, but Minnesota gained the final shots advantage at 29-28.
Briggs picked up the loss, stopping three of the game's first six shots, to fall to 18-9-3, while Berkhoel got the win with 27 saves. Johnson made 19 saves in the relief effort.
The WCHA rivals face-off tomorrow at 7:05 p.m., Mountain time at Magness Arena in Denver. With a win, the Golden Gophers can clinch home ice for the first round of the WCHA playoffs.
