DENVER -- In a matchup of top-20 WCHA teams, the University of Denver squeezed out a victory over the Wisconsin Badgers on Friday night at Magness Arena, 3-2.The game should not have been as close as the score suggests. The Pioneers came flying out of the blocks, scoring two goals in the first 10 minutes and dominating every facet of the game. Wisconsin looked slow-footed and over-matched offensively, and by the beginning of the third period, the margin had grown to 3-0.
But with 1:26 remaining in the second period, a power play goal put Wisconsin back in the game. The goal was originally credited to top prospect Kyle Turris, but was later changed to Aaron Bendickson, giving Turris an assist.
Wisconsin carried this momentum into the third period, cutting the deficit to one less than two minutes in. The Badgers also started to pick up their physical game, and the period was marked by several scuffles and a number of roughing penalties on both sides. Turris, coming off an inspired performance in the World Junior Championships, seemed to be in the middle of a lot of the action, earning himself a stint in the box.
A late high-sticking penalty appeared to kill Wisconsin's chances to tie it up, but they pulled their goalie and kept up good pressure on the DU netminder, Peter Mannino. That's when the craziness started. With just 2.7 seconds remaining on the clock, Tyler Ruegsegger had a shot at the empty Wisconsin net, but missed and iced the puck, bringing the faceoff down to the Denver end.
People had been filtering out of the arena during the last couple minutes of the game. As they exited past me, I started to think of all the times I'd witnessed a team score to tie or win a game in the closing seconds. I thought of a Bruins game back in 1998 I went to in Boston against the Panthers - Scott Mellanby tied it with 18 seconds remaining. I thought of Mats Sundin's last second effort to save the Leafs' season in the 2002 conference finals. Just this week, Marco Sturm scored against the Devils with .6 left in the second period. This game might not be over, I thought.
Then it happened.
DU had called a time out, and when they lined up for the final faceoff, 2.6 seconds on the clock, I immediately questioned DU's formation. The faceoff was to the left of Mannino, and coach George Gwozdecky's had decided to put all five players on the right side of the circle. The Pioneers wanted to simply fall on the puck and prevent any chance at a shot on goal.
The puck dropped, five DU players lunged toward it while the Badgers were digging away, trying to pick the puck from this scrum.
I understand the logic behind the coach's decision, but honestly, I would rather put my goalie in a position where he can see the puck and make a save, which was impossible with so many bodies in front of him. Obviously, you want to win the faceoff, but even if Wisconsin won it cleanly, you still have a chance to clog their shooting lanes from a normal formation with only two seconds to play.
Somehow, a Wisonsin player got enough wood on the puck to slip it through five hole. Game tied. No time left on the clock.
With the Badgers celebrating and the DU players and fans in shock (there seemed to be almost as many Wisconsin faithful as Denver fans in the building), the referee sent it upstairs for review. It was no goal - time had expired before the puck crossed the goal line - and Denver escaped the upset.
I'm glad I decided to stay until the bitter end. Luckily, I have no place to be.
There was one more thing to note about the game. During a break, there was a trivia question posted on the jumbotron asking which of the following was a sports headline in the Denver Post on January 11. The correct answer was a 1982 headline about former Pioneer and Hartford Whaler great Kevin Dineen scoring some game-winning goal - I don't remember the exact details - but I only mention this because when they posted the correct answer, his name was written as Kevin Dineed. Come on, guys, keep it together.The Hartford Whalers get no respect.
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