Say this about No. 2 Denver, the Pioneers are a resilient group.

DU twice battled back to tie the score, then overcame a bad bounce that lifted No. 3 Boston College into a tie before taking a 4-3 non-conference victory Saturday night.

Carter King scored Denver’s second power-play goal of the third period with 2:02 to play when he deposited a rebound past Jacob Fowler (24 saves) for the difference.

Denver Powers Up

Tristan Broz gave Denver (3-1) its first lead of the night when he one-timed a shot from the right circle past Fowler with 9:41 to go in the third. One night after going 1-for-9 on the power play in a disappointing 4-3 loss at No. 10 Providence, the Pioneers were 2-for-5 — the first two PPGs the Eagles have allowed this season.

>>READ: DU Falls at No. 10 Providence

DU moved the puck well and changed up its looks to create shooting lanes with the man advantage.

King’s goal was sweet redemption for the flip side of the Pioneers’ special teams. Three minutes after Broz’s goal, Will Smith (the No. 4 overall pick in June’s NHL Entry Draft by San Jose), scored on a bizarre deflection. DU freshman Zeev Buium, a teammate of Smith’s at the U.S. National Team Development Program, blocked Smith’s one-timer from the left circle. The puck bounced into the air and over goaltender Matt Davis (24 saves).

Rather than get demoralized, the Pioneers went back into attack mode and Jack Devine drew another penalty after a goal-mouth scrum in front of Fowler. King scored on a rebound of Devine’s shot.

KING HIM!

Pioneers take the lead. pic.twitter.com/e0SbCSDNb5

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) October 22, 2023

Back-and-Forth Beginning

The Pioneers and Eagles played a fast-paced game, befitting not only their rankings but the fact the teams boast a combined 26 NHL draft choices, 14 for BC.

They traded the first four goals. Smith scored with 4 minutes left in the first. Massimo Rizzo tied it 6:12 into the second. The point was his 10th of the season.

Oskar Jellvik re-established the Eagles’ lead when he finished a 2-on-1 by changing the angle of his shot with 7:09 to go in the second. But senior DU Connor Caponi evened it again 4:33 into the third when he scored on a rebound. That set up the Pioneers’ fantastic finish.

Cleaning up in the crease.#GoPios pic.twitter.com/KaBa5I33yZ

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) October 22, 2023

Notes: Denver finally plays its home opener on Friday against first-year Division I program Augustana before Air Force visits on Saturday.

©First Line Editorial 2023