Feb. 9, 2007

Box Score

HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Michigan Tech Huskies used goals by Geoff Kinrade and Tyler Skworchinski and 23 saves by Michael-Lee Teslak to defeat the No. 5 Denver Pioneers 2-1 in WCHA action during Winter Carnival tonight before 3,321 fans at MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Tech improves to 13-14-4 and 8-11-4 in league play, while the Pioneers drop their second consecutive game to fall to 20-11-4, 12-9-4.

"We turned in a sub-par performance and Tech capitalized to get the win," DU head coach George Gwozdecky said. "We didn't match their intensity and got out-played most of the game."

Kinrade staked Tech to a 1-0 lead at 11:01 of the opening stanza. Kinrade buried a cross-ice feed from Ryan Bunger stick side of Peter Mannino (14 saves) on the power play. Mullen quickly tied it for DU when he scored unassisted at 13:04. Mullen picked the puck from Alex Gagne in the neutral zone and beat Teslak high to the stick side from the left faceoff circle. Each team had three shots on goal in the period.

Skworchinski tallied the game-winning goal of the second period to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead. Skworchinski beat Mannino high to the glove side from the high slot at 2:46. Tech outshot the Pioneers, 10-9, and held a 13-12 shot advantage after two periods.

The teams played a scoreless third period, despite DU finally outshooting the Huskies 12-3. DU's last chance at salvaging a tie was thwarted when Mike Handza (Glenshaw, Pa.) took a roughing penalty with 1:35 remaining in the game. Gwozdecky pulled Mannino with 1:07 remaining, but DU failed to score.

The Pioneers went 0-for-5 on the power play, while Tech was 1-for-3. DU won the shot battle 24-16.

The teams play game two of the series tomorrow at 3:07 p.m. MT.

Notes: The six combined shots in the first period marked a season low in 33 games for DU. The previous low was 10 on Nov. 24 vs. Air Force. Mullen's goal was his first in 15 games. The win for Tech was its first against the Pioneers in Houghton since Dec. 13, 1997. Geoff Paukovich's career-high, seven-game point streak came to an end. Peter Mannino's winning streak ended at six games. DU is now 0-9 when trailing after two periods.