Tigers' Rau shows no signs of rust

Sporting a playoff-style mustache, Colorado College center Chad Rau displayed "midseason form" in the Tigers' 5-2 exhibition win over the University of Alberta on Monday.

Rau scored two goals and set up two others, foreshadowing what should be another All-America campaign for the senior.

Last season, Rau was named second-team All-America and Western Collegiate Hockey Association first team after leading the league in goals.

Third-ranked CC makes its regular-season debut Friday against Alabama-Huntsville at World Arena.

When practice resumes Wednesday, coach Scott Owens said his top three priorities are to diversify scoring, tighten up defense and improve face-offs.

"We need a lot of work," he said. "I would have liked to have more people involved in the scoring. I'm thrilled about Chad, but I'd like to have more people involved. ... We'll be better on Friday."

Playing its third game in three nights, Alberta skated circles around CC in the opening minutes, leading the Tigers 2-0 after 11 minutes. In both cases, CC goaltender Richard Bachman was forced to make a point-blank save after a defensive breakdown and the Golden Bears stuffed in the rebound.

"We gave up a few grade-A's," said junior Nate Prosser, the Tigers' top-scoring returning defenseman. "We definitely have some things to work on."

After only two days of official practice, though, the Tigers' special teams looked solid.

On its first power play, Prosser's slap shot from the top of the left circle rattled under goaltender Aaron Sorochan.

The Tigers tied the game less than 4 minutes later when Rau fed freshman David Civitarese, a Calgary, Alberta native, for a one-timer in the slot.

Midway through the second, Rau maneuvered through the slot and beat Sorochan for a power-play goal to give CC a 3-2 lead.

"We can play a lot better than we were playing," Rau said. "We all just realized it."

Unlike in its weekend losses at Denver and Air Force - which were undecided until the final 1.5 seconds and 2 minutes, respectively - Alberta faded during the third period, mounting only 10 shots in the final 26 minutes.

Drew O'Connell, who replaced Bachman 12 seconds before Rau's second-period goal, saved all nine shots he faced.

"I think that team was a little run-down by the time I got in there," O'Connell said.
Rau's shorthanded goal resulted from another skillful move through the slot, with four gassed Alberta players slogging behind.

"He was back to his old self again," Prosser said of Rau, who led the nation with six shorthanded goals last season. "He's just a sniper, simple as that."

Center Brian McMillin added an empty-net goal with 11.7 left.

Slap shots

Assistant coach Mike Guentzel and volunteer assistant R.J. Enga watched the Tigers from the press box, "just to take notes," Guenztel said. ... Forwards Nick Dineen (shoulder) and Stephen Schultz (lower body) were scratches. ... CC dressed 24 players for the exhibition, including extra forward Civitarese and all eight defensemen, and all but goaltender Tyler O'Brien played. ... Alberta won the Canadian university national championship last season and was playing its seventh game of the year.