Top-Ranked Minnesota Cruises to 5-1 Win, Sweep of No. 7 Denver :
February 18, 2006 - Behind three-point nights from Alex Goligoski and Phil Kessel, the top-ranked University of Minnesota men's hockey team rolled over No. 7 Denver, 5-1, tonight at Mariucci Arena to gain the series sweep and maintain its hold on first place in the WCHA standings. The Golden Gophers (21-6-5, 16-5-3 WCHA) stormed out of the gates with a three-goal first period and never looked back to record UM's first sweep over the Pioneers (18-12-2, 15 -7-2) since Jan. 14-15, 2000.
Four Golden Gophers - Goligoski (1-2--3), Kessel (0-3--3), Danny Irmen (2-0--2) and Chris Harrington (0-2--2) - recorded multi-point nights to hand the Pioneers their first sweep in WCHA play since March 12-13, 2004 vs. Colorado College. The Maroon and Gold is now 14-1-1 in its last 16 games, 9-1-0 in its last 10 home games and in the midst an eight-game unbeaten streak (7-0-1). Tonight's game was also memorable for Harrington and junior Ryan Potulny as both Golden Gophers tallied their 100th career points to become the 75th and 76th players in school history to reach the 100-point mark.
Minnesota now owns a two-point lead in the WCHA standings with 35 points in 24 conference games. Following UM is Wisconsin (33 points) and Denver (32). With the sweep over DU, the Golden Gophers swept North Dakota, Colorado College, Wisconsin and Denver in the same season for the first time since 1990-91.
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