Tristan Broz scores in overtime to lead Denver past BU in the Frozen Four
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Tristan Broz scored in overtime to send Denver to Saturday's national championship game with a 2-1 win over Boston University in the Frozen Four semifinals Thursday night.
“It was another battle of a hockey game,” said Denver coach David Carle. “As the game went on, we got more comfortable with the pace. We won more races, and we put them on their heels a little bit in the second and third period.”
The Pioneers head back to the national championship game for the second time in three years after they won the national championship in 2022. BU fell in the Frozen Four semifinal for the second year in a row.
"We made some mistakes that cost us,” BU coach Jay Pandolfo said. “It's one-and-done. It's a hard tournament to win."
The win was Denver’s third straight 2-1 victory, following 2-1 wins in the regional against Cornell and Massachusetts.
BU took the early lead on a shorthanded goal by Luke Tuch. The Pioneers were beaten back up the ice after Denver defenseman Sean Behrens pinched into the attacking zone, which left Jack Devine on an island by himself at the point. That resulted in numbers for BU coming the other way, and Kaplan fed Tuch for the goal just 7:45 into the game.
BU’s defensive strategy was impeccable, effectively shutting down the Pioneers for almost 35 minutes.
Denver only had six shots on goal midway through the second period, and when the Pioneers did generate a few chances, BU goaltender Mathieu Caron stood the test.
“The first period we played very well,” Pandolfo said. “The first 12 minutes of the second period, they may have had five or six shots. We shot ourselves in the foot by not continuing to play behind them. They got momentum from one shift and found a way to score a goal, and it gave them some life.”
A crucial mistake by Lane Hutson, a turnover behind his net, turned the tide in Denver’s favor and allowed them to tie the game.
Miko Matikka was the beneficiary of a rare Hutson gaffe when Hutson chipped him the puck behind the BU goal. Matikka found Tristan Lemyre charging down the slot and fed him for the game-tying goal with 4:39 left in the second period.
The goal gave Denver life after the Terriers silenced the Pioneers for 35 minutes.
“They started quicker than we did,” Carle said. “We may have felt like there would be more time and space. I give them credit they won all the 50-50 races to the walls. In the second period, we started to win some. That led to some of our possession time that we were able to generate.”
The Pioneers almost took the lead a few minutes later, with just a few seconds left in the second period, but Caron made arguably the best save of the season on Aidan Thompson. He stretched his glove back across his body, caught the puck, and somehow managed to keep his glove hand from going over the line.
Denver nearly took the lead again with 9:13 left in the third period, but Caron made almost an identical save on Jack Devine from the top of the crease.
“[Caron] made it real hard on us,” Carle said. “He made saves through traffic. You tip your hat. The two goaltenders were the two best players tonight.”
BU’s best chance to take the lead came with three minutes left in the third period. Jack Harvey stepped into a slap shot, and it beat Matt Davis but rang off the right post.
With 1:13 left, the officials reviewed Dylan Peterson’s potential major when it appeared he hit Behrens from behind into the wall. After a review, the officials kept the penalty at a two-minute minor for boarding (which was called on the ice).
The third period ended with the game still tied 1-1, and Denver opened the third period with 47 seconds of power-play time.
Denver had four power plays in total. BU had none. Denver’s only penalty was a matching minor called in overtime.
"You guys watched the game,” Pandolfo said. “Were there penalties out there or not? We didn't get on the power play at all, they got on it four times. But that's not the reason we lost the game. We have to find ways to put teams away 5-on-5, and we didn't do that."
The game was even throughout overtime until Broz’s goal. He entered the zone, inches onside, and beat Caron with a low wrist shot.
“Every kid dreams of doing something like this[an overtime goal] for your team,” Broz said. “I was backchecking and there was a turnover to [Sean] Behrens. He made a nice pass to the middle and I knew it was a 2-on-1. I had a good step and we actually did [a 2-on-1] drill yesterday. I scored a few times going five hole.”
Denver will compete for its record 10th national championship on Saturday night.