University of Denver
Michigan Tech
Maiani's Overtime Goal Lifts Pioneers Past Huskies, 4-3
1/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
DENVER Anthony Maiani (Shelby Township, Mich.) scored the game-winning goal with 17 seconds remaining in overtime to lead the No. 5/7 University of Denver Pioneers (14-6-2, 10-4-1 WCHA) to a 4-3 win over the visiting Michigan Tech Huskies (5-16-2, 1-12-2 WCHA) tonight in front of 5,039 fans at Magness Arena.
Sophomore goaltender Marc Cheverie (Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia) posted 30 saves in his 14th victory of the season. Joe Colborne (
“I thought Marc Cheverie kept us in the game in the first period,” head coach George Gwozdecky said. “Marc was the difference in the game. He was tremendous tonight. Anthony is a pass-first player, but obviously he scored a big one (goal) for us tonight.”
The Huskies held a 1-0 lead after the first period after outshooting the home team, 12-8. Derek Kitti scored on a pass from Eli Vlaisavljevich at the 7:18 mark of the opening period.
J.P. Testwuide (Vail,
However, Michigan Tech battled back to regain the lead with 12:50 remaining in the middle stanza. Alex Gagne slipped a shot past Cheverie from just left of the crease to give the Huskies the 2-1 lead.
The Pioneers again evened the score, this time on a power-play goal by Colborne. Wiercioch found fellow freshman Luke Salazar (
The teams headed into the third locked in a 2-2 tie, but Rhett Rakhshani (
The Huskies pulled Nolan with 1:02 remaining to gain the extra skater, and the advantage paid off as the visitors tied the score at 3-3 on an unassisted goal by Geoff Kinrade just six seconds later.
Both teams tallied two shots in overtime before Maiani slid the game-winner past Nolan. Jesse Martin (
DU outshot the Huskies 34-33 and went 2-for-5 on the power play. Michigan Tech was 0-for-2 with the man-advantage.
Notes: DU remains in first place in the WCHA with 21 points...Denver ended its 0-for-30 power play drought with two man-advantage goals tonight...Maiani (7-2128) extend his career-high point streak to 11 games while Rakhshani (9-1120) extended his current point streak to four games...Denver improves to 3-0 against Michigan Tech this season.
