On March 16 at the Xcel Energy Center, DU Hockey defeated the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs 3-1, and advanced to their first National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) championship game since 2014. Denver will play St. Cloud State in the NCHC Championship on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.
The Crimson and Gold scored two power-play goals, including junior forward Colin Staub’s (Colorado Springs, Colo.) score at 4:22 of the second period. The victory marked Denver’s sixth-consecutive win against Minnesota Duluth.
“It was a good team win,” Head Coach Jim Montgomery said. “It’s exciting to be back in a championship game in the NCHC.”
“I liked our poise on the bench and I liked how after we killed off the five-minute major we really played smart hockey,” Montgomery said. “We didn’t give them time and space and really limited their opportunities.”
Denver opened the scoring at 8:55 of the first period and 10 seconds into their first power play of the game when junior forward Troy Terry (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and freshman defenseman Ian Mitchell (Calahoo, Alberta) moved the puck to sophomore forward Henrik Borgström (Helsinki, Finland) for a shot from the left face-off circle. The goal gave Denver a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
Minnesota Duluth evened the score early in the second period on a power play from the first period. But Denver rallied as junior forward Logan O’Connor (Calgary, Alberta) deflected sophomore defenseman Michael Davies’ (St. Louis, Mo.) shot from the point and Staub score to put the Pioneers in front again. The Bulldogs had an opportunity to even the score on a 1:29 five-on-three power play opportunity, but Jaillet turned aside every shot to keep Denver in front.
Denver made it 3-1 with 49 seconds left in the game on senior defenseman Adam Plant’s (Penticton, B.C.) empty net goal.
Denver finished 2/4 on the power play and 3/4 on the penalty kill. Jaillet made 24 saves in the win.
The Pioneers will face St. Cloud State in the Championship game on March 17 at 7:30 p.m.
