Top-seeded Denver dispelled a couple of myths on Thursday in a 2-1, double-overtime victory over UMass in an NCAA Tournament opener at Springfield, Mass.

First, the Pioneers (29-9-3) can only win if they score four or more goals.

Second, their defense and goaltending aren’t up to standard.

Junior Tristan Broz ended the marathon 12:28 into the second OT when his shot beat Michael Hrabel to the goalie’s left as he was screened by Sam Harris. The 92:28 of game time set a DU playoff record.

Denver’s Matt Davis Rose To The Occasion

Let’s examine Myth No. 2 first. DU fought tooth and nail with the Minutemen. Along the wall, in the crease, even in the neutral zone. The teams were in each others’ grills for nearly five periods. Every inch of ice was contested.

When it was all said and done, UMass generated 47 shots on goal, and a handful were of the high-danger variety. When those appeared, junior Matt Davis was there to stop them.

Davis, who played through an apparent lower-body injury sustained in the first overtime, played the game of his life. His 46 saves were his NCAA career best and came at the best possible time.

The total was seven more than he had to stop against Western Michigan on Feb. 2, including several show-stoppers. His control, of both pucks and rebounds, was tuned in all game.

The victory was Davis’ 20th of the season, and it marked the fourth time in five postseason games he’s allowed two or fewer goals. That’s a positive omen for the Pioneers, who next face Cornell in the Elite Eight on Saturday. Cornell shut out DU in the first round of the NCAAs in 2023.

DU’s Offense Fought Through All Sorts of Traps

As for Myth No. 1, it’s important to note that of Denver’s 29 wins, it scored four or more goals in 27 of them. The exceptions were a 3-2 OT victory over North Dakota on Dec. 2, and Thursday’s grinder.

Playoff-style wins can happen, they just hadn’t very often.

But DU showed determination to keep battling — and battling — through the Minutemen’s checks and blocks. It resulted in 43 shots on goal, including two memorable ones.

Goal No. 1 was also through a screen. Boston Buckberger gave DU a short-lived 1-0 lead midway through the second period while Connor Caponi took up residence on Hrabel’s doorstep. Only by taking away the eyes of the supersized Hrabel (he’s 6-foot-7)  could the puck greet the net.

The Pioneers accomplished this without top center Massimo Rizzo, who missed his 13th consecutive game due to injury. You might recall that Rizzo had 44 points in his 28 games or more than 1.5 per game.

Who stepped into his place on the top line between Hobey Baker finalist Jack Devine (56 points and 27 goals) and the recently promoted Harris? None other than Broz, whose 15th goal undoubtedly is his biggest one yet.

Thursday’s gut check not only keeps the Pioneers in the dance, but it gives them a chance to punch a ticket to the Frozen Four in two weeks. Another stern test awaits on Saturday.

©First Line Editorial 2024