DENVER — Joe Colborne scored three goals and Marc Cheverie came within seconds of his NCAA-leading seventh shutout of the season as second-ranked Denver beat Minnesota 4-1 Saturday for a sweep of their Western Collegiate Hockey Association series.
Denver's win, combined with St. Cloud State's loss to North Dakota, moves the Pioneers (20-6-4, 14-4-4 WCHA) back into first place in the tight WCHA race. It is Denver's first four-game regular season sweep of Minnesota.
"That was something we wanted to do, make history tonight," said Denver's Rhett Rakhshani, who had two assists.
Cheverie was 1:38 away from a shutout in Friday's 3-1 win and he came 39 seconds from a shutout on Saturday. Cheverie gave up two goals on 168 shots by the Gophers this season.
Colborne also scored a goal in Friday's 3-1 win. His goals in the first and second periods came on the power play and he added a shorthanded tally early in the third. Brian Gifford and Anthony Maiani also scored.
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Cheverie made 32 saves, helping the Pioneers kill off six of seven Minnesota (13-15-2, 8-12-2) power plays. Mike Carman ended the shutout with 39 seconds left.
The Gophers' Kent Patterson made 28 saves.
