Coming off a weekend series split against Colorado College where DU dominated the first game and lost in the second game, the No. 4 ranked Denver Pioneers traveled to St. Cloud, Minnesota to take on No.1 ranked St. Cloud State. Denver continued to successfully hold their ground defensively like they’ve done all season, as they didn’t give up a goal until the second period on a tap-in by Blake Lizotte to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead. While both teams were about equal in shots going into the third period, the struggle continued for the Pioneers to offer senior Goaltender Tanner Jaillet (Red Deer, Alberta) with goal support.
With 3:27 left in regulation the Pioneers finally found the back of the net for the first time in two games as junior forward Troy Terry (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), who just returned from the Olympics, delivered a one-timer pass to senior defenseman Adam Plant (Penticton B.C.) to send the game to overtime.
Neither team scored in the first five-on-five overtime which led the game to a three-on-three overtime. The Pioneers scored in dramatic fashion with junior forward Logan O’Connor (Calgary, Alberta) receiving a lucky ricochet off the back of St. Cloud State’s David Hrenak. While the game was decided as a tie in regulation by NCHC rules, the Pioneers picked up two points in the standings from scoring in the three-on-three overtime.
“We didn’t have great life and energy (until the third period),” said Head Coach Jim Montgomery.
Denver came into the next game looking to climb closer to that No. 1 ranking. Both teams missed several close opportunities in the first two periods but St. Cloud State outplayed the Pioneers to take a 2-1 lead into the third.
The Pioneers tied the game 2-2 early in the third period on a wrist shot from Blake Hillman, but the always elusive offense of the top team in the country took the lead again at 12:25 in the period on a breakaway by Jack Poehling. The Huskies then sealed it on an empty-netter to win the game 4-2 and the Penrose Memorial Cup for best regular season performance in the NCHC.
Despite the loss, Montgomery showed more hope in his postgame remarks saying, “I thought we were a better hockey team than we were last night and St. Cloud State was too.”
The Pioneers were able to salvage a couple of points against the top team in the country on Feb. 23 which will likely help their spot in the NCHC rankings. As the playoffs roll around, Montgomery is confident with the progress he’s seeing in the team.
“We have to play with more purpose and more determination like we did tonight and good things will happen for us,” Montgomery said. “We can’t have bad results anymore.”
Next week the Pioneers return to Magness Arena to take on Miami Ohio in their final regular season series before the NCHC playoffs.
