Denver stunned No. 1-ranked Michigan, 4-3 in double overtime at T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas, to advance to the Frozen Four final Saturday against Wisconsin.
Michigan had a 3-2 lead with under three minutes remaining, but Denver forward Clark Caswell deflected a pass over the shoulder of Wolverine freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic to tie it at 17:14 of the third. Defenseman Kent Anderson netted the game-winner, just his second goal of the season, drifting into the slot to receive a pass from Kristian Epperson and wiring it off the right post and in past Ivankovich. Michigan's streak of years not winning a championship now extends to 29. Denver seeks its third championship in the last five years.
Michigan dominated play, outshooting Denver 52-26, but they struggled to get much past Pioneers goalie Johnny Hicks, also a freshman (the first Frozen Four with all freshman goalies). Hicks has not lost this season, now 15-0-1, since taking over the starting job midseason, and his unbeaten streak stretches back over a year, when he went 5-0-1 in the WHL playoffs for the Victoria Royals.
The Pioneers will take on Wisconsin, who got two goals in the first period and held off second-seed North Dakota, for a 2-1 win. The men will now have an opportunity to join the women as national champions in the same season.
My take: Denver–Michigan was terrific. A lot of skill. Great goaltending. Physical. I didn't see Wisconsin's game but they were equal to Michigan this season head-to-head, with the teams alternating lopsided wins in their four meetings, so Denver's in for another tough one.
THE ASYLUM
Wisconsin, Denver in final
Denver stunned No. 1-ranked Michigan, 4-3 in double overtime at T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas, to advance to the Frozen Four final Saturday against Wisconsin.
Michigan had a 3-2 lead with under three minutes remaining, but Denver forward Clark Caswell deflected a pass over the shoulder of Wolverine freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic to tie it at 17:14 of the third. Defenseman Kent Anderson netted the game-winner, just his second goal of the season, drifting into the slot to receive a pass from Kristian Epperson and wiring it off the right post and in past Ivankovich. Michigan's streak of years not winning a championship now extends to 29. Denver seeks its third championship in the last five years.
Michigan dominated play, outshooting Denver 52-26, but they struggled to get much past Pioneers goalie Johnny Hicks, also a freshman (the first Frozen Four with all freshman goalies). Hicks has not lost this season, now 15-0-1, since taking over the starting job midseason, and his unbeaten streak stretches back over a year, when he went 5-0-1 in the WHL playoffs for the Victoria Royals.
The Pioneers will take on Wisconsin, who got two goals in the first period and held off second-seed North Dakota, for a 2-1 win. The men will now have an opportunity to join the women as national champions in the same season.
My take: Denver–Michigan was terrific. A lot of skill. Great goaltending. Physical. I didn't see Wisconsin's game but they were equal to Michigan this season head-to-head, with the teams alternating lopsided wins in their four meetings, so Denver's in for another tough one.
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