Colorado College coach Scott Owens isn’t shelving Joe Howe, and he isn’t committing to Josh Thorimbert (above) every game the rest of the season. The goaltending situation technically remains a platoon, but Thorimbert is closer than ever to seizing the No. 1 spot for good.

A sophomore, Thorimbert (9-4) has started nine of the past 11 games, with a 6-3 record, a 1.67 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage during what’s undoubtedly the best stretch of his career, allowing more than two goals only once. In his past three starts, he’s 2-1 with a 1.34 GAA and a .963 save percentage, having turned back 73 of 76 shots when the No. 11 Tigers last played in a Jan. 20-21 road split against No. 2 Minnesota.

The last game CC won with Howe, a junior, in goal was Dec. 2 against No. 13 Denver, a 4-3 overtime victory at World Arena. The past three games Howe (5-5-1) has started, he has given up five goals in a Jan. 14 overtime loss to St. Cloud State, three goals in a Jan. 7 tie against No. 14 Cornell and six goals in a Dec. 9 defeat against Alaska-Anchorage.

“Josh has done a lot to establish himself,” Owens said, hinting that Thorimbert will start Friday at Denver. “I don’t know if we’re going to go (with) a one-goalie system. It’s hard to argue with Josh’s success from the first of December on. His numbers back it up. That doesn’t mean that Joe is out of the mix. But (Thorimbert) has given us a chance to win.”

Likely starting at Magness Arena for the first time, Thorimbert insisted he will “approach it like every other game. Keep it simple and make the saves. I know this is a huge series, but I’m just thinking of it as another game. … I usually don’t let the crowd affect me.”

Thorimbert said his job has been easier because “everyone is buying in defensively – the forwards and the defensemen. What helps are the forwards coming back and supporting the defense and not giving up the odd-man rushes. Guys have bought into the penalty kill and into defense. We’ve played really solid here lately, and we want to keep it up.”

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey, Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/cchockey. For the CC blog, visit http://cchockey.freedomblogging.com.

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