Top-ranked Denver continues its quest for its eighth national championship on Thursday night in a Frozen Four semifinal at the United Center in Chicago. Its foe is one that should be somewhat familiar – Notre Dame.
In hindsight, a couple of interesting trends emerged that New Year’s 2016 weekend that ended up helping DU go on a long hot streak and ultimately reach the Frozen Four for the first time in a decade.
Here’s a look back at last season’s two-game series between the Pioneers and the Fighting Irish at Magness Arena.
Friday night
Coming out of a rough pre-break stretch, No. 17 Denver fired away in Game 1 against Notre Dame, launching 57 shots at Cal Petersen. Unfortunately, Petersen stopped 56 of them, the exception being Trevor Moore‘s midway through the third period. Regulation and two overtimes (5-on-5 and 3-on-3) weren’t enough to break what for NCAA purposes remained a 1-1 deadlock. Thomas DiPauli‘s shootout goal gave the Irish the win. Tanner Jaillet saw just 10 shots in the first two periods, but then faced 19 in the third period and overtimes.
The quote: “Tanner was excellent,” DU coach Jim Montgomery said. “Those two saves he had early when we were on the power play as well as the one in the third and several in the overtimes were outstanding. And when the goalie on the other end is standing on his head and you’re not seeing much rubber it’s harder.”
Saturday night
Generating shots again wasn’t a problem for the Pioneers, who sent 48 at Petersen this night. Dylan Gambrell scored two goals, and linemate Moore scored in a shootout to give DU a 3-2 win in what the NCAA recognized as a 2-2 tie. Jaillet added 23 saves and went on to start most of the rest of DU’s games last season. The series also jump started the newly formed line combination of Gambrell, Moore and Danton Heinen, otherwise known as the Pacific Rim Line.
The quote: “All three of them have elevated their games,” Montgomery said. “Everyone has seen 20 and 8 do it before but it’s nice to see 7 playing at their level.”
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