Mario Boilard led the Cutthroats (3-3-0) in scoring with two goals, including his first of the year. Boilard had three goals in 46 games last season with the Evansville IceMen. Gabriel Beaupre, Phil Tesoriero and Gabe Gauthier also found the back of the cage for the first time this season. For Boulder, Colo., native Tesoriero, it was his first professional goal after three seasons with Davenport University (NAIA).
Brad Smyth and A.J. Gale also scored for Denver while goaltender Kieran Millan stopped 34 of the 35 shots he faced for his first win of his professional career.
The Cutthroats’ seven goals set a new season-high for Denver, which has now scored at least four goals in four of their six games this season.
For the second time this season—and second game in a row—Denver scored three goals in the first period. Boilard got things started early for the Fish, scoring a tip in goal at 5:15 of the opening stanza. Fort Worth (1-4-1) quickly responded, scoring 1:10 later, but the Cutthroats scored twice late in the frame to take a 3-1 lead going into the first intermission. Beaupre scored the go-ahead goal on a 2-on-1 breakaway with 4:11 remaining, while Boilard extended the lead to two 21 seconds later. Jamie MacQueen and Kyle Quincey each had two assists in the stanza.
Both teams saw their share of scoring chances early in the second period, with each hitting posts, but it would be Denver that found the back of the net with three goals in 3:05 late in the period.
Smyth scored the first at 14:34 before Gale ripped a wrist shot from the left circle, off some iron, and in nearly two minutes later. It was Gale’s fifth goal of the season and his first since his hat trick performance on Oct. 20 against Missouri.
Tesoriero made it a 6-1 game with 2:21 remaining in the second period as he scored on a wrist shot from the right-wing boards.
The Cutthroats added another one late with Gauthier scoring with 1:38 left in regulation for his first of the year.
After playing five of their first six games on the road, the Cutthroats go on their first true road trip of the season as they play three games in the desert against the Arizona Sundogs, beginning on Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. Denver and Arizona will play again on Friday Nov. 11 and Saturday Nov. 12 in Prescott Valley, Ariz.
Three Stars:
1. Mario Boilard (DEN)
2. Kieran Millan (DEN)
3. Jamie MacQueen (DEN)
Notes: It was a big night for Colorado hockey as the Eagles and DU Pioneers also had huge wins, as well as a couple of hat tricks. Michael Forney of the Eagles helped drive them to a 7-2 win over the San Francisco Bulls with his three goals, and Chris Knowlton of DU recorded his first three goals of the season with his hattie. DU would finish out St. Cloud with a 6-1 beat down.
Recap courtesy of Denver Cutthroats