How “sweep” it is for the soon-to-be-higher than 10th-ranked University of Denver Pioneers. Thanks to a clutch 3-1 victory, the Pioneers, who many had feared would come out of the weekend looking at a scary 0-4 record, swept arguably the best team in the country in the #2 Boston University Terriers.
How was it done, you might ask. How exactly did the Pioneers come away with a second victory in as many nights against such a talented team? Two words:
Henrik Borgström.
Tonight was, without a doubt, the Finnish freshman’s coming out party. With two goals and an assist, Borgström’s compete-level and incredible hands made all the difference for the Pioneers this evening.
Borgström’s first three games were best characterized as promising if a bit frustrating. He had numerous chances, but he came up just a bit short every single time.
Not tonight, though. All night, the freshman sliced and diced BU’s defense, generating chance after chance for the Pios. It took until the second period for the puck to find twine, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort on Borgström’s part.
“I said last night, wait until the first one goes in…and you could just see him,” DU head coach Jim Montgomery said. “He started going around people, through people, and that second goal was a big-time play.”
Throughout the game, on the BLT Line Jarid Lukosevicius and Troy Terry, he skated through BU’s defense and set up his linemates for scoring opportunity after scoring opportunity. However, in the second period, it was mostly a fluke of a goal that got Borgström on the scoresheet for the first time in his young career.
On a DU power play, the puck was on his stick in the left circle and Borgström shot the puck short side near BU goalie Jake Oettinger’s head. Somehow the puck found the one inch of open space and hit twine to put the Pios on the board and finally give Borgström the breakthrough he’s been craving for two weeks.
His second was nothing short of a thing of beauty. On a 2 on 1 rush with Terry, Borgström head-faked Oettinger, skated across the crease, and tossed a backhand shot past the BU goaltender. To complete his 3-point night, Borgström was credited with an assist on fellow freshman Tyson McLellan’s empty-net goal to seal the sweep.
“It’s two nights in a row where we’ve had players do real unselfish things,” Montgomery said. “Last night, Evan Janssen could have tried for a hat trick, but he just killed the game off with a one-goal lead. [Borgström] ended the game with a great play to McLellan, but that’s just good puck support.”
Montgomery has preached that he’s been so close to scoring that first goal, all he needed to do was notch his first one and they’d start coming in droves. Tonight, in front of his parents who flew in from Helsinki, Finland for Parents Weekend, Borgström scored his first two and was instrumental in helping the Pioneers complete the unlikely sweep of the Terriers.
Watch out, Pios. With his first two, a confident Borgström might start to show Denver how good he really is.
What a fun weekend at Magness, Perfect fall days, nice Homecoming parties and lots of terrific hockey action, with a sweep to celebrate.
Borgstrom’s parents flying in from Finland was obviously the spark he needed to start scoring, so, let’s steal their return plane tickets so they can come to every DU game instead of going back to Finland!
Seriously, Henrik’s goals tonight were “first-rounder” type goals – great placement and high style points. Great to see him get rewarded, and this is a huge confidence builder as DU heads to Michigan State next weekend.
BU is going to be a fantastic hockey team as the year rolls on, and it would not surprise me if DU and BU met again in NCAA play. That BU team is loaded with young talent, and the Pios were able to get the better of them by virtue of work ethic last night, and Bergstrom’s skilled plays tonight.
What a fun weekend at Magness, Perfect fall days, nice Homecoming parties and lots of terrific hockey action, with a sweep to celebrate.
Borgstrom’s parents flying in from Finland was obviously the spark he needed to start scoring, so, let’s steal their return plane tickets so they can come to every DU game instead of going back to Finland!
Seriously, Henrik’s goals tonight were “first-rounder” type goals – great placement and high style points. Great to see him get rewarded, and this is a huge confidence builder as DU heads to Michigan State next weekend.
BU is going to be a fantastic hockey team as the year rolls on, and it would not surprise me if DU and BU met again in NCAA play. That BU team is loaded with young talent, and the Pios were able to get the better of them by virtue of work ethic last night, and Bergstrom’s skilled plays tonight.
Helluva weekend for the Pios!! Another great game last night. Really happy to see Borgstrom get on the score sheet. If he keeps working hard and building his confidence he should be a special player.
I liked the energy level all weekend. DU skated well, pushed the pace, and played well under pressure against a very good BU team. Huge step forward this weekend.
Here is to hoping Plant is OK and doesn’t end up like Gambrell. I am pretty sure Gambrell broke his thumb or wrist from an uncalled slash against BC.
Gambrell’s hand surgery went well last week. He will be out of his hard cast in a couple of weeks, then a soft cast/rehab. Back in 4-5 weeks, hopefully.
Helluva weekend for the Pios!! Another great game last night. Really happy to see Borgstrom get on the score sheet. If he keeps working hard and building his confidence he should be a special player.
I liked the energy level all weekend. DU skated well, pushed the pace, and played well under pressure against a very good BU team. Huge step forward this weekend.
Here is to hoping Plant is OK and doesn’t end up like Gambrell. I am pretty sure Gambrell broke his thumb or wrist from an uncalled slash against BC.
Gambrell’s hand surgery went well last week. He will be out of his hard cast in a couple of weeks, then a soft cast/rehab. Back in 4-5 weeks, hopefully.