The No. 10 Providence Friars defeated the Ferris State Bulldogs, 4-2, in the opening game
of the 2000 Denver Cup.
Ferris State took a 1-0 lead at the 3:28 mark of the first period. The Friars failed to clear the puck from their defensive zone and the Bulldogs took advantage as Kevin Swider notched his ninth goal of the season.
But Devin Rask erased the deficit and tied the game 10 seconds after Ferris State’s goal.
Late in the second period the Friars were able to capitalize on a five-minute game misconduct penalty assessed to Ferris State’s Rob Lewandowski for hitting from behind. Devin Rask gave the Friars their first lead of the game at the 15:11 mark of the second period. Rask received a pass from Peter Fregoe just in front of the crease, and then fired a shot past Bulldog goaltender Phil Osaer, a power-play goal.
At 18:04, Mike Lucci added to the Friars’ lead scoring his fourth goal of the season. Matt Libby fired a shot that deflected off of Osaer’s pads, Lucci charged the net, collected the rebound and notched PC’s second power-play goal of the night.
At the 15 second mark of the third period, the Bulldogs were called for their second game misconduct penalty of the night and once again giving the Friars a five-minute man-advantage. Libby tallied the Friars’ third power-play goal of the game and his sixth goal of the season at the 47 second mark. Libby received a pass from Fregoe and ripped a slap-shot from the point, beating Osaer, extending PC’s lead to 4-1.
The Bulldogs closed to within two goals as Rob Lightfoot recorded a power-play goal at the 7:30 mark of the third period.
Boyd Ballard stopped 28 shots in the victory, while Osaer recorded 19 saves in the loss.
With the win, Providence improves to 9-4-3, while Ferris State drops to 4-11-4.
