Denver (11-4-2, 4-4-0) played another solid road game in Madison Friday night. The Kohl Center has turned into Denver’s home-away-from-home with a 16-4-4 all-time record. The Pioneers used a three goal third period outburst to break a 2-2 tie.
Six goals? You bet đź‘Š #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/7D8H1gOKAi
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) January 5, 2019
In the first period, DU got the early lead on the power play at 4:15 on a goal by Slava Demin. Liam Finlay and Ian Mitchel assisted on the lone tally for the period to make it 1-0, Denver.
Wisconsin countered within a minute of the second period to tie it up on a power play goal by Seamus Malone at 19:19. Three minutes later, Denver responded with a goal from Ryan Barrow, assisted by Michael Davies and Colin Staub. But once again, Wisconsin countered again at 3:50 on a goal by Tyler Inamato to knot the score at 2-2. DU lost Devin Cooley early in the second period when Cooley came down awkwardly on his knee after apparently injuring it in the first period. Felip Larsson relieved Cooley.
The Pioneer game-winning fireworks started in the final period when Denver took control with three goals in three minutes. Liam Finlay got DU on the board at 2:43 to start the fireworks. At 5:05, Tyler Ward got the next goal with an assist from Ian Mitchell and Emelio Pettersen. Kohen Olischefski took in a rebound and rifled a forehand shot that found net – 5-2, Denver.
Jake Durflinger capped off the win when he buried an empty net goal at 19:21 of the third for the final dagger of the night to make the final 6-3. Denver out-shot Wisconsin 33-28 (SOG) for the game, a rarity this season but, again, had excellent defense and goal tending. Denver had four powerplay opportunities and scored once while the Badgers were one for two on the man advantage. Denver had a slight faceoff advantage 24-23.
David Carle continues to have DU playing at a high level with a team that seems to be gaining more confidence every game. The Pioneers face Wisconsin to finish the set Saturday night at 6:00 pm MT.
You have to like the recent trend of DU getting stronger deeper into games. With the new guys now getting all that early season ice time under their belts, they are now starting to flow like a talented team does. Secondary scoring is coming, too, which makes for more balance and lineup happiness. Wisconsin was PWR #21 coming into this game – not world beaters, but more than good enough to hang three goals on us, even without K’Andre Johnson in Vancouver with Team USA, whom they miss. Good thing the Pios had six tonight.
Let’s hope the injury to Cooley isn’t too horrible. He’s been more than solid, but I think Larsson is the better goalie, and getting him more starts will only sharpen him.
By the way, Carle is crushing it. He’s 29 going on 40, and the players love him. He’s super smart and has also stabled a very good brain trust of staffers around him. He’s learning more each week, and he’s done a superb job filling the roster holes after the NHL took his boss and his best players over the spring and summer. He is also smooth and funny with the media, too. Bonus.
Go get the sweep, Boys.
Really glad to see DU start the 2nd half this way. 3 consecutive wins on the road is great. Also, glad to see Mitchell back. I’m sure he’s extremely disappointed in how things played out for Team Canada at the WJC, but obviously getting back to playing with his DU teammates was important, and that’s cool to see.