Coming off three straight winless games, including their first loss of the year to rival Colorado State, the CU Hockey team was looking to get back in the win column, as they faced Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, last Thursday and Saturday night. The Buffs won both games beating up on the Cougars by scores of 7-4 and 8-5.
Buffalo goalie Marc Torrente, made his first start of the season Thursday, after being sidelined with an injury all season. Torrente had a great first period, stopping every shot he faced. However, Torrente did have a lot of help, with the Buffs scoring 5 goals in the period, including four in a four minute time span. Max Myers, Mike Nunley, Mark Viau, and Scott Tittle all notched goals in that four minute period. Matt Ullrich added the CU's fifth with 29 seconds remaining in the period to give them the 5-0 lead.
But Southern Illinois' Cory Beck, not being satisfied being down by five, scored two goal right out of the gate to narrow the Buffalo lead. But Colorado's Kevin Alpert scored with 7:34 remaining in the second to give the Buffs the 6-2 lead going into the final period of play.
In the third, SIUE's Billy Shacklady scored at 6:29 into the period, and Cory Beck would add his third of the night to complete the Hat-Trick. But those goals wouldn't be enough to give the Cougars the come from behind win, as CU's Conor Williams also scored in the third, to give the Buffs their first win in November.
Torrente stopped 26 of SIUE's 30 shots, while Southern Illinois goaltender, Casey Kicielinski only managed to stop 38 of CU's 45 shots.
Torrente took Saturday night off, as Kevin Litinsky, the league leader in Shutouts with 4, started between the pipes for Colorado, against the same SIUE team.
The game was a back and forth score-fest with both teams switching off in the goal compartment all night long. That was until the Buffaloes scored three straight in the final minutes to give them the 8-5 win.
SIUE's Ryan Salmon scored first to give them the early lead, but CU's Sean Carpenter and Scott Cooley both notched goals later in the period, to give Colorado the lead after one.
CU's Brad Edelberg and Max Myers both scored goals in the second, but was matched as Southern Illinois's Chance Webb, and Daniel Guarino also found the back of the net, to only give the Buffs the 4-3 lead after 40 minutes.
Both Southern Illinois and Colorado would add goals early in the third, but Aaron Loehr for the Cougars, tied the game up at five a piece with seven minutes remaining in regulation.
But don't worry Buff faithful, as this story would have a happy ending, as Scott Cooley, Chad Wetzel, and Brad Edelberg would all score in the final four minutes to give the Buffaloes the 8-5 win.
Both goaltenders faced plenty of shots as Litinsky saw 47, and Lucas Venker for Southern Illinois saw 58.
Southern Illinois now moves to 7-6-0 for the year, while Colorado moves closer to reclaiming the top spot in the West with a 13-1-2 record. The Buffs are only three points behind Utah Valley State College for number one, and play them next on Thursday November 29 th, as part of the Western Classic Tournament put on by both CU and CSU. Colorado also plays Arizona State on Friday November 30 th and Eastern Washington on Saturday December 1 st, before hoping to get their redemption against CSU, in the Championship game in Fort Collins on Sunday December 2nd.