Jan. 7, 2005
Box Score
DENVER - All good things must come to an end. The fifth-ranked Denver Pioneers turned in a sub-par performance and were defeated 3-0 by the Michigan Tech Huskies tonight in WCHA action at Magness Arena. Tech goaltender Cam Ellsworth sparkled in net and recorded his first shutout of the season with 35 saves, and Jimmy Kerr, Brandon Schwartz and Chris Conner scored goals as the Huskies ended Denver's nine-game unbeaten streak. Denver drops to 13-6-1, 8-4-1 WCHA, while Tech improves to 2-16-1, 2-13-0 WCHA. Tech also recorded its first win in its last 16 games against the Pioneers and shut out the Pioneers for the first time since 1979.
"We didn't give our best effort tonight," head coach George Gwozdecky said. "Michigan Tech did a great job. For the first time this season, we were outplayed, outworked and weren't especially sharp. We gave Tech too many opportunities and they capitalized on them."
After a scoreless first period, which featured several odd-man rushes by both teams, Tech finally lit the lamp when Kerr tapped in a rebound off a shot by John Hartman at 5:10. Tech increased its lead to 2-0 when Schwartz scored on the power-play when his shot deflected off the skate of Denver's Brett Skinner (Brandon, Manitoba).
Tech iced the game when Conner scored from the left slot from Colin Murphy at 15:31 of the third period. The Pioneers outshot the Huskies, 35-27, but were unable to convert as they suffered their first shutout of the season and their first shutout in Magness Arena in 20 games.
Ellsworth stopped 35 Denver shots in his best performance of the season. He earned his first WCHA win of the season and improved his record to 1-8-0 this season. Ellsworth also keyed Michigan Tech's penalty-kill unit by stopping all five Pioneers shots as Denver went 0-of-3 with the man advantage. Tech finished 1-2 on the power play.
Pioneer goaltender Glenn Fisher (Edmonton, Alberta) turned in a solid performance for Denver. Fisher stopped 24 shots and kept the game within reach for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers and Huskies will play game two of the series tomorrow night at Magness Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. MT.
