Pioneers 4, Mavericks 2 (updated)

Denver Post photo

Minnesota State opened its Western Collegiate Hockey Association with a tough, 4-2 loss at third-ranked Denver. Playing without six injured players who were back in Mankato, the Mavericks hung tough, taking a 1-0 lead and tying the game 2-2 early in the third period.

"The kids played hard, they played real hard," coach Troy Jutting said in a phone interview after the game. "I'm really proud of the kids' effort. They battled hard."

But in the when-it-rains-it-pours category, the Mavericks suffered another injury. Chase Grant went out with a lower-body injury, and Jutting said he might be out for awhile. He certainly won't play Saturday.

"It's unreal," Jutting said. "Five games into the season, and we can't dress a full roster."

Here are stories by the Denver Post and USCHO.

Here's a period-by-period recap of the game:

FIRST PERIOD
Jean-Paul LaFontaine put back his own rebound after a big Evan Mosey shot from the point to give Minnesota State a 1-0 lead over Denver. Justin Jokinen also assisted on the play. Each team went scoreless on one power play during the period, and MSU goalie Austin Lee stopped 12 shots, including three big-time saves.

SECOND PERIOD
Luke Salazar scored two goals in the second period to give Denver a 2-1 lead. On the tying goal, Jason Zucker took a shot that was blocked right to Salazar, catching Austin Lee out of position for an easy goal. The second came with 48.2 seconds left in the period. Salazar got behind the defense after the Mavericks went scoreless for the third time on the power play (but nearly scored with a shot off the post). They are 0 for 20 now this season. Shots were 10-7 for Denver in the frame.

THIRD PERIOD
The Mavericks quickly tied the game when Zach Lehrke scored from Adam Mueller at the 1:17 mark. Like the Mavericks, the Pioneers came into the game scoreless on the power play. But Denver finally scored with the man advantage at 6:18 when Drew Shore fired a shot through traffic from the right circle. Minnesota State did have a 4x3 power play but couldn't do much with it. Nick Shore sealed the game with an empty-net goal in the final minute. Denver outshot MSU 16-10 in the period, so 38-25 for the game.

Read the boxscore here.