Thursday’s first Frozen Four semifinal was a game that lived up to the hype, but not necessarily in the way that was expected.

Carter Savoie scored on a rebound of his own shot with 5:07 to play in overtime to lift Denver to a 3-2 victory over Michigan, the NCAA Tournament’s top seed, and a spot in Saturday night’s NCAA title game against Minnesota State.

Carter Savoie

Predictions of a 1980s-style scoring fest didn’t come to fruition, but that was due in large part to the Pioneers’ dedication to closing off the middle of the ice and slowing the Wolverines’ speed through the neutral zone.

Denver (30-9-1) consistently got sticks in passing lanes and bodies in shooting lanes, a testament to the coaching staff’s scouting and implementation.

“I loved our team defense,” DU coach David Carle said. “Everybody, to a man, was up, they were angling, making life hard on them. When mistakes did happen, Magnus (Chrona)was there to slam the door.”

The winning goal shared a common thread with the Pioneers’ first two, by holding the puck in at the blue line to maintain possession.

This time it was Savoie, who got the puck to down the right side to an area where Bobby Brink was. Brink, who was inexplicably left alone, retrieved it. Brink fired a pass to Savoie as the latter steamed through the slot. Savoie’s first shot was stopped by Erik Portillo (30 saves), but Savoie gathered his own rebound and deposited it into the open net.

“Tonight reminds me of that Duluth game (at the Loveland Regional),” Savoie said. “Our whole group did a good job weathering it, not giving up.

“Bobby made an unbelievable play. (Portillo) made a good save, and I got the rebound in front.”

Pios avoid danger

The Pioneers, who will make their 12th title game appearance on Saturday, tying Michigan and Minnesota for second all-time behind North Dakota’s 13, dodged a handful of bullets in overtime.

The Wolverines (31-10-1) forced an icing and kept DU’s starting five on the ice for the first 2:25. Denver eventually got a whistle and was able to change lines.

Michigan also got a couple of breakaway chances, first a 2-on-1 that required a toe save by Chrona (19 saves) and then one on defenseman Luke Hughes with 6:17 left.

“I thought Magnus was unbelievable in that overtime,” forward Ryan Barrow said. “He let us get our feet settled.”

Denver also could not cash in on any of its three power-play chances, including two in the third period. Those latter two included several prime opportunities. The Pioneers, undoubtedly to Michigan’s chagrin, did not take a penalty.

“Discipline had been an issue of ours at times,” Carle noted. “It was the best it’s been all season. It’s hard to be that difficult to play against without the puck without taking a penalty.”

Denver’s Magnus Chrona made 19 saves. Photo courtesy of Damian Strohmeyer/NCAA Photos via Denver Athletics

DU played with the lead

Twice Denver took leads, and twice Michigan tied it in a game full of compelling momentum swings.

Denver’s Brett Stapley staked the Pioneers to a 1-0 lead with 8:38 to go in a first period that DU dominated from start to finish. The Pioneers were so strong that Michigan didn’t register a shot on goal until nearly 11 minutes had expired.

“Obviously they’re incredibly skilled,” Barrow said. “All week in practice we worked on angling, taking away time and space.”

Stapley’s goal came on a patient play. Jack Devine forced a turnover along the right wall and passed the puck into the high slot, where defenseman Justin Lee corralled it. Lee’s point shot was blocked by Portillo. The puck went between the circles, where Stapley scooped it up, took a few strides, made a forehand-backhand move and backhanded it over the sprawling netminder.

The three quarters of the second period was another story. Michigan found its legs and took the action to DU much more often than not.

The Wolverines’ hard work down low paid off early in second when their fourth line got down to business. Senior Jimmy Lambert walked into the low slot uncovered, one of the few times DU didn’t seal off the slot, and took a pass from Nolan Moyle from below the goal line. Lambert beat Chrona under the left arm 4:03 in.

Denver re-established a lead 5:36 into the third, when Benning’s wrist shot from the right point was deflected by Cameron Wright between the circles. The goal was Wright’s 22nd, tying him with Savoie for about a period and a half.

Michigan, however, would not quit.

Less than four minutes later Thomas Bordeleau, one of the Woverines’ heralded seven first-round NHL Draft choices, scored a nifty goal after a DU shot near the Michigan line caromed of defender Mark Estapa and into the neutral zone. Michael Pastujov skated it into the DU zone and fired toward Bordeleau, who was driving the net. The puck hit Chrona and went to his left, right where Bordeleau had stopped rather than overskating the play.

That set the stage for a successful reunion of the top line of Brink, Savoie and Cole Guttman. Barrow started the game with Brink and Guttman.

“We talked about it at the (third period) intermission,” Carle said. “The (Massimo) Rizzo line had a goal, the Stapley line had a goal, and we needed the Guttman line to get one, and they came through at the biggest of moments to extend our season.”

By extending it, the Pioneers gave themselves a chance to win a ninth NCAA title, which would tie Michigan for the most all-time.

©First Line Editorial 2022