March 2, 2007

Box Score

DENVER - The Colorado College Tigers (17-15-3, 13-12-2) recorded one goal in each period and received a 29-save shutout from senior netminder Matt Zaba to earn a 3-0 victory over the Denver Pioneers (21-13-3, 13-11-3) in WCHA action before a sellout crowd of 6,195 at Magness Arena. With the victory, the Tigers are guaranteed possession of the Gold Pan Trophy, and more importantly, clinched home ice for the WCHA playoffs.

"The patience we've shown all year wasn't there tonight," Denver head coach George Gwozdecky said. "As the game wore on, we started forcing too many pucks up the middle of the ice in the neutral zone. We only have one game left in the regular season and there's a lot on the line. We have to win all three periods tomorrow night."

The visitors took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission after Bill Sweatt snuck behind the DU defense, caught a pass from Jimmy Kilpatrick and beat DU netminder Glenn Fisher (Edmonton, Alberta) over his right shoulder on a breakaway at 5:33.

CC took a 2-0 lead at the 11:33 mark of the second period on a Chad Rau second-effort power-play tally. Fisher (14 saves) stopped Rau's initial effort from the right side of the net, but couldn't get in front of the CC pivot's rebound attempt from the goalmouth.

CC defenseman Jack Hillen added an insurance goal at the 10:48 mark of the third period on a wrist shot from the point.

The Pioneers outshot the Tigers by a 29-17 margin. DU's struggles continue on the power play with an 0-for-7 effort, while CC finished 1-for-5.

DU will play its final regular season game tomorrow night against CC at World Arena. Puck drop is set for 8:07 p.m.

Notes: The Pioneers honored the senior class of 2007 prior to the start of the game. Steven Cook (Denver, Colo.), J.D. Corbin (Littleton, Colo.), Mike Handza (Glenshaw, Pa.), Ryan Helgason (Woodbury, Minn.), Fisher, Danny King (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Adrian Veideman (Sicamous, British Columbia) all played their final regular season home game at Magness Arena tonight ... DU is now tied with North Dakota for third place in the WCHA standings with 29 points, while CC currently sits in fifth place with 28 points ... Tonight marked the first time that DU has ever been shutout in back-to-back home games. The Pioneers dropped a 3-0 decision to North Dakota on Feb. 24 ... DU was last held scoreless in back-to-back games on Dec. 17-18, 1993, at St. Cloud State.