Denver outlasts Michigan in double overtime

The Pioneers will face Wisconsin in the national title game on Saturday night

Photo: NCAA.com

Kent Anderson, perhaps the most unlikely of heroes for Denver, crept down from the right point midway through the second overtime, took a feed from Kristian Epperson, and buried just his second goal of the season to send the Pioneers back to the national championship game.

“Our guys found a way to win a game,” said Denver coach David Carle. “Johnny was obviously excellent for us. Kent with a huge goal. It took everybody to try and get this victory.”

For Anderson, it was only the sixth goal of his 149-game career — and without question, the biggest.

“Kristian protects the puck well, found me in a good spot,” Anderson said. “Let her rip and it went in.

“I don’t score many goals, so this is ranking up top so far.”

Kyle Chyzowski opened the scoring midway through the first period. The freshman made a key play on the forecheck, deflecting a Michigan breakout pass. Kieran Cebrian gathered the loose puck and fed Brendan McMorrow, who set up Chyzowski for a one-timer.

Roughly seven minutes later, Kienan Draper won an offensive-zone faceoff for Michigan, and Josh Eernisse ripped a wrist shot through traffic and past Johnny Hicks to tie the game.

Just over a minute later, Adam Valentini sent a shot wide that caromed off the glass and over the net, landing on the stick of T.J. Hughes, who finished from the backdoor to give Michigan a 2-1 lead.

Early in the second period, Cale Ashcroft pulled Denver even. The junior defenseman took a pass from Sam Harris along the wall and fired a point shot that beat Jack Ivankovic.

Midway through the third, Eric Jamieson was assessed a cross-checking penalty, and Michigan capitalized. On the power play, Jayden Perron took a feed from Will Horcoff and snapped a wrist shot under pressure from Reeder that beat Hicks to restore the Wolverines’ lead.

Denver answered late. With Hicks pulled for the extra attacker, Clarke Caswell got his stick on a feed from Garrett Brown and redirected it past Ivankovic, tying the game with 2:46 remaining.

In the first overtime, Rieger Lorenz nearly ended it, beating Ivankovic only to see the puck ring off the crossbar. Michigan countered with a prime chance of its own, but Garrett Schifsky was denied at the top of the crease by Hicks’ left pad.

Denver earned a late power play in the first overtime when Horcoff, who had earlier stepped on defenseman Boston Buckberger, was penalized for a slash. The advantage lasted just 55 seconds before Harris was called for a penalty, negating the opportunity.

Buckberger did not return to start the second overtime after being cut by Horcoff’s skate, but rejoined the Denver bench minutes later and soon returned to the ice.

“Bucky, when he came back out, that gave everybody a little extra juice,” Anderson said. “Shows what kind of guy he is, wants to come back and help this team.”

Hicks was sharp early in the second overtime, turning aside multiple Michigan chances. At the midpoint of the period, the Wolverines held an 11-2 edge in shots in the frame and a 50-25 advantage overall.

“It’s such a good program over there,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “They played a great game tonight. What am I going to take from it? What are [our players] going to take from it? We out shot them 46-13 in the last four periods. In hockey and in life, sometimes you do it the right way and you just don’t get the bounces.”

Hicks finished the night with 49 saves.

“He’s had an unbelievable run the last two, three years,” Carle said. “Obviously, he was our best player tonight. Very unfazed by the moment. Made a lot of great saves. Yeah, he made the saves you’re supposed to make, and he made a lot that he wasn’t supposed to make.”

After a stoppage to clear the ice, momentum began to tilt. Denver found its footing, and moments later, Anderson seized his moment, finishing the play that will be remembered and sending the Pioneers back to the national title game.