Sophomore Peter Mannino stopped 27 shots for his sixth career shutout, and four different players scored in No. 13 Denver’s 4-0 win over UMass in nonconference action at Mullins Center. Gabe Gauthier, Matt Carle, Ryan Helgason, and Adrian Veideman each scored goals as the Pioneers ended their five-game winless streak. DU improves to 6-6-2 overall, while UMass falls to 4-8-0.
“We had a great start after taking a tough 1-0 loss last night,” head coach George Gwozdecky said. “We buried our chances early, and Peter played a good game for the shutout. Our team was really determined to end the winless streak tonight.”
DU jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first 20 minutes. Gauthier, Carle and Helgason scored consecutive goals for Denver, which was shutout last night 1-0. Gauthier banged in a rebound on the power play, Carle wristed in a shot from the left circle, and Helgason launched a laser from the slot for DU’s first three-goal first period of the season. Mannino looked sharp in net with nine saves.
UMass outshot the Pioneers 14-13 in the second period, but Mannino denied every attempt. DU used a Veideman goal to take a commanding 4-0 lead at 16:16. Veideman’s second goal of the season from the right circle trickled past UMass goaltender Jon Quick (33 saves).
Mannino stopped four shots in the scoreless final period to secure his first shutout since the 2005 WCHA Final Five championship game against Colorado College on March 19.
The Pioneers outshot UMass 37-27 and produced a 1-for-6 effort on the power play. DU held UMass scoreless on the man advantage in three attempts. Veideman added two assists for his first career three-point game, while Carle and Gauthier each finished with one goal and one assist. Helgason’s goal was his third in the last four games.
DU plays a home-and-home series against in-state rival Colorado College on Dec. 2-3. UMass will take on Merrimack Tuesday.
