Box Score MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Minnesota jumped to a 3-0 first period lead and stormed to a 7-3 win over No. 4 Denver before 9,917 fans during Hockey Day Minnesota this afternoon at Mariucci Arena.
The Golden Gophers end their six-game losing streak against Denver and improve to 12-12-4, 9-10-3 WCHA. Denver falls to 18-7-5, 14-5-3.
Seven different Golden Gophers scored and Kent Patterson stopped 31 shots for the win. Cade Fairchild led Minnesota with four points (1g, 3a), while Erik Haula added three points (1g, 2a).
Beau Bennett (Gardena, Calif.), Chris Knowlton (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and John Lee (Moorhead, Minn.) scored for DU and Drew Shore (Denver) added two assists. Sam Brittain (Calgary, Alberta) took the loss with 10 saves.
A potential Denver power-play goal by Dustin Jackson (Omaha, Neb.) at 5:32 of the first period was wiped away when the referee ruled Jackson intentionally re-directed the puck into the net with his right skate. Minnesota quickly capitalized on Denver's misfortune and got goals from Jacob Cepis, Taylor Matson and Nick Bjugstad to take a 3-0 lead after the first period.
Minnesota made it 4-0 just 33 seconds into the second period when Haula ended Brittain's day with his fifth goal. Mike Hoeffel greeted Adam Murray (26 saves) with a goal at 12:22 and Fairchild's power-play tally at 16:30 gave the Golden Gophers a commanding 6-0 lead after two periods.
Bennett, Knowlton and Lee scored for DU in the third period and Patrick White tallied Minnesota's seventh and final goal.
Minnesota outshot Denver, 44-34, and went 2-for-3 on the power play. DU was 1-for-5 with the man-advantage.
Denver hosts Michigan Tech on Feb. 18-19.
Notes: Freshman David Makowski (Wildwood, Mo.) will miss next Friday's game against Michigan Tech after receiving a five-minute major and 10-minute game disqualification for fighting at 8:16 of the third period. Senior captain Kyle Ostrow (Calgary, Alberta) missed his second career game after undergoing vascular surgery of the lower abdominal area Friday afternoon in Minneapolis. Denver has allowed the first goal in its last five games. Zucker extended their point streaks to five games, while Drew Shore extended his point streak to four games.
