Photo: Courtesy of Miami Athletics
Denver (17-4-5, 7-3-4) swept the weekend Saturday night with a 5-2 victory over the Miami Redhawks. A pair of Ian Mitchell goals highlighted the road victory. Goaltender Devin Cooley earned the win. The two-game sweep extends the Pioneers unbeaten streak to 11 games.
Ian Michell got Denver going on a 1-0 power play goal but Miami countered with a goal from the point by Derek Daschke that sailed past Devin Cooley for the 1-1 tie. Red hot Kohen Olischefski took a pass from Liam Finlay and blasted a top-shelf bullet for his third goal of the weekend and a 2-1 Pioneer lead.
In the second period, the teams traded possessions until an Emilio Pettersen snipe made it 3-1 on the glove side with 6:23 left in the 2nd period. Miami’s Monte Graham came off the rush and fired thru a Miami screen to draw within 1, 3-2. The Redhawks Gordie Green picked up a 10:00 misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct but the period ended 3-2, Denver.
Denver earned some breathing room in the third period when a Jaakko Heikkinen goal assisted by Bobby Brink put Denver up 4-2 with 15:49 left in the 3rd. Ian Mitchel made it 5-2 with 11:11 left in the third with a deflection off a Redhawk defender. Denver controlled the balance of play to earn a solid 5-2 road victory.
With games coming up against NCHC powers Minnesota Duluth and league-leading North Dakota over the next two weekends, Denver continues to keep the top spot within reach.
Denver returns to Magness Arena for a pair of games next weekend against second-place Minnesota Duluth (or third place if they fall to North Dakota later tonight) at 7:07 pm MT Friday and Saturday.
Denver vaults into second place in the NCHC since UMD lost to North Dakota. 11 game unbeaten streak is the longest in college hockey right now, and it’s keeping the Pios in the hunt.
Very solid road weekend for the Pioneers – won 4 of the six periods and DU’s special teams are becoming special again. Olischefski had his best offensive weekend as Pioneer, too and he deserved it for being on his toes and keeping those feet moving. Having him get his confidence going is very helpful to spread the scoring load.
The most impressive thing for DU this weekend might have been the defensive feat of holding Miami to just six shots on goal over the final two periods on Saturday night, on the road. Can’t remember last time DU played that kind of suffocating gap control on an opponent. Pioneers adjusted very well to Miami’s 15 shot first period, and the RedHawks had little time or space to prolong an attack as the game wore on. Meanwhile, DU, bumps, transition and cycle game was clinical – Denver Hockey.
Should be an epic series vs UMD next weekend.