Denver’s Filip Larsson is drawing a lot of attention heading into Thursday night’s Frozen Four semifinal against Massachusetts (6:30 p.m., ESPN2), and justifiably so. The freshman goaltender is riding a wave that would make a pro surfer envious.
Larsson’s overall numbers (14-5-2, 1.86 goals-against average and .936 save percentage) are terrific, but he’s found another gear since the calendar flipped to February.
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Beginning with a win and a tie against North Dakota, he’s gone 7-3-1 in his past 11 starts. What’s more impressive, he’s done it with a .957 save percentage while allowing just 1.27 goals per game. The latter two numbers were enhanced by back-to-back shutouts in Rounds 1 and 2 of this NCAA Tournament.
He’s one reason why Denver (24-11-5) finds itself back at the Frozen Four for the 16th time, but according to the affable Swede, he’s far from the only one. Instead, a healthy dose of competition and burgeoning friendship with sophomore goaltender Devin Cooley has made a big difference.
“Cooley had been good all season. When I got my first few games I felt like I needed to play good to get games,” Larsson said. “That kept going the entire season.
Filip Larsson credits competition in practice with fellow goalie Devin Cooley for helping him take his game to the next level. Photo courtesy of Denver Athletics
“He played great, and when I got the chance I wanted to play great as well. Here at the end I’ve had an opportunity to play a few more games. To get that opportunity I feel like I need to step up and show the coaches I deserve that opportunity. We have helped each other.”
They are the only goaltending tandem in the NCAA who both are in the top five for save percentage (Larsson is third and Cooley is fourth with a .934) and the top 10 for GAA (Cooley is sixth with a 1.85 and Larsson is 10th). DU captain Colin Staub said the noticeable net gains are tied to having both of them on the ice together in practice.
“They’ve been great all year,” Staub said. “Specifically down the stretch, with both of them being healthy for the last couple months of the season is kind of a first. We haven’t had them both healthy at the same time. I think that has resulted in them being a little more competitive in practice. They’re pushing each other, and I think that’s why they’re both finding so much success right now.”
The goaltending tag team, selected the Pioneers’ co-MVPs at the April 5 hockey banquet, wasn’t at full strength any length of time until early February, when Larsson’s roll began.
Musical chairs
Cooley, who was the team’s third-string goalie last season, emerged early this season when given the chance to be the full-time starter. He led the Pioneers to a 5-0-1 start, and was 7-3-1 when Larsson made his DU debut on Nov. 24. The freshman missed most of the season’s first two months because a lower-body injury he’d dealt with since last season in the United States Hockey League.
On Jan. 4, Cooley went down with an upper body injury and missed the next nine games in a six-week span. That, in turn, gave Larsson the opportunity to knock some rust off his game.
“I was gone for nine months. When you get back, you discover you’ve lost a lot of details in your game,” Larsson said. “When I’ve got more games, things have come back to my mind that I need to do to be more successful. I have adjusted a little bit from things I’ve seen on video, maybe shots I’ve gotten beat on.
“When I got two games in a row, it’s helped me find new things I can improve in my game. It’s really worked out.”
Since Cooley has been healthy, he’s made six starts and has gone 3-2-1, but he’s posted a couple of huge shutouts in there (at Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 16 and at Colorado College 10 days later). In those six starts, he’s allowed just eight goals total.
There’s no bad choice here
So while Larsson has made hay in the postseason, when he has three of his four shutouts, including two in the first two NCAA games, this truly is a 1A-1B setup.
“We have to tip our hats to our goalies. We know we’re a good defensive team, but they’ve upped their game,” defenseman Les Lancaster said. “So has everybody. Coming down the stretch, when we were fighting for home ice in the NCHC (quarterfinals) we all kicked it up a notch, especially our goalies. They’ve been playing phenomenal.”
The Frozen Four is an entirely different animal. Three years ago, DU went to Tampa on a roll and lost a semifinal game to eventual champion North Dakota. Far less fazed the next season, the Pioneers won their eighth title.
“I think the first time we went to the Frozen Four in Tampa we were a little bit blinded by the bright lights,” DU coach David Carle said.
Will the glare be too much for Larsson? It seems unlikely. In his past 11 games, he’s allowed more than two goals just once. In addition to consistency, he also brings plenty of seasoning.
“He came here as a 20-year-old, he’s got a lot of experience,” Carle said. “He played in a World Junior tournament last year. He was the USHL Goaltender of the Year only playing in half the games, so he’s got a ton of experience and background to lean on himself.
“He’s obviously figured college hockey out, and his game has gone to another level here in the last couple weeks.”
If he keeps that level going, and the Pioneers maintain their overall defensive posture and mix in some timely goals, they could complete their Climb for Nine on Saturday night in Buffalo.
©First Line Editorial 2017-19
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