Thorimbert shuts out Denver, CC inches closer to Gold Pan

DENVER – The first half of the mission was a success, a result of the first shutout of the season for Colorado College. Now, the Tigers could get back the Gold Pan. On their turf.

Josh Thorimbert stood strong through unrelenting pressure in turning away 29 shots, and Jaden Schwartz scored on what would have been his late sister’s 24th birthday Friday in catapulting No. 11 CC to a 2-0 victory against No. 13 Denver at Magness Arena.

The first win by CC (15-9-1, 12-7 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) over Denver (15-9-3, 10-6-3) in four games at Magness propels the Tigers to third in the WCHA – six points behind No. 2 Minnesota, which was idle, and three points behind No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth, which beat Alaska-Anchorage. Just as important, the first shutout against Denver since 2007 positions CC to reclaim the Gold Pan on Saturday at World Arena, the Tigers needing a victory or a tie for the trophy the Pioneers have possessed the past two seasons.

“It was a good, gritty effort,” CC coach Scott Owens said, adding that “as the game went along, they got a little bit more momentum and jump. We bent a little bit, but we didn’t break, and Josh kept us in there. … We wanted to continue to play good, road hockey. There’s not as much room this time of the year, so we’ve got to make do with it.”

For the first time in quite a while, CC clearly resembled the team in control, a team intent on dictating the tempo, a team determined on employing its brand of play. It broke a five-game winning streak that Denver had enjoyed by accumulating a 35-29 shot advantage, including a 15-4 edge in the first period, and by winning the special-teams battle, with the power-play goal by Schwartz in the first and kills on both of Denver’s power plays.

Simply put, CC seemed unfazed by every moment of adversity. When the Tigers learned that Scott Winkler was too banged up to play, replaced by William Rapuzzi on the second line. When they were knocked down to five defensemen in the first after Aaron Harstad was ejected for fighting, along with Dustin Jackson of Denver. When the Pioneers blasted Thorimbert (10-4) with too many quality chances to count, a lot from prime spots. All the sweeter as David Civitarese sealed the deal with an empty-net goal with 49 seconds left.

Credit Sam Brittain (1-1) for keeping Denver in contention in only his second game back from a knee injury. But also credit CC’s defensemen for making Thorimbert’s job easier, with a presence in the neutral zone, with grit in the corners, with hard work in the passing lanes, particularly by Gabe Guentzel and Joe Marciano. Also consider that Jason Zucker had eight shots, denied by Thorimbert on a partial breakaway in the second and a victim of the left post in the third, when Jarrod Mermis took a five-minute major for boarding.

“Our defensive game has been unbelievable,” Thorimbert said, noting that CC has given up three goals in as many games. “Everyone is buying in, and it has been a solid effort, and that’s what we wanted coming back from Christmas break. And it has happened.”

Denver coach George Gwozdecky said, “Any time you’re playing in a rivalry like this, in a big game, you need good goaltending, and he gave them outstanding goaltending.” He added, “They moved the puck much better than we did. … We had a few good chances, but we didn’t do a very good job of forcing them to defend for lengthy periods of time.”

COLORADO COLLEGE 2, DENVER 0

Colorado College       1          0          1 – 2

Denver                         0          0          0 – 0

First period – 1. CC, J. Schwartz 9 (R. Schwartz, Guentzel), 11:48 (pp). Penalties – D. Shore, Denver (slashing), 6:36. Phillips, Denver (tripping), 10:26. Harstad, CC (fighting and game misconduct), 16:28. Jackson, Denver (fighting, instigating and game misconduct), 16:28.

Second – None. Penalties – Guentzel, CC (tripping), 3:50. Dineen, CC (roughing), 12:08. Mayfield, Denver (roughing), 12:08. Marciano, CC (interference), 15:55. Zucker, Denver (tripping), 16:42.

Third – 2. CC, Civitarese 7 (Collett, J. Schwartz), 19:10 (en). Penalties – Mayfield, Denver (holding), 7:35. Mermis, Denver (boarding), 13:53.

Shots on goal – CC 15-12-8-35. Denver 4-17-8-29. Power-play opportunities – CC 1 of 6. Denver 0 of 2. Goalies – CC, Thorimbert 4-17-8 (29 shots-29 saves). Denver, Brittain 14-12-7 (34-33). Attendance – 6,207. Time – 2:37. Referees – Don Adam, Tim Walsh. Linesmen – Tim Swiader, Gary Pedigo.

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey, Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/cchockey. For the CC blog, visit http://cchockey.freedomblogging.com.