The result was never in doubt, but the top-ranked Denver Pioneers (1-0-0, 0-0-0 NCHC) made the crimson & gold-clad fans sweat a bit in the third period as they skated to a 5-2 victory over #11 Notre Dame (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Big Ten). Four different Pioneers scored and 11 different Pios recorded a point. Depth was their calling card a year ago en route to the program’s ninth national title and, in one of the weekend’s marquee matchups between two national contenders, the Pioneers leaned on it once again.

Harvard transfer Casey Dornbach, skating on the top line with Carter Mazur and Massimo Rizzo, led the way for the hosts, bookending the game with the first and last goals, the latter coming with an empty Irish net. The top line combined for four points and three goals but it was the play of all four lines, especially from Owen Ozar on the fourth line, that made the biggest difference against an elite defensive team.

For as big as the Pios’ scoring depth was tonight, it was their play in their own end, especially through the first two periods, that kept the Irish at bay and prevented them from making it a competitive game. By the end of the second period, the Pioneers had limited Notre Dame to just six shots on goal and 23 total shot attempts. In the same span, Denver recorded 21 and 45, respectively. In all respects, except for on the scoreboard, the Pioneers were putting on an absolute hockey clinic at the expense of the nation’s 11th-ranked team.

But, again, Notre Dame, coached by Jeff Jackson, is known for their responsible defense, and for much of the first two periods, they kept the Pioneers from generating much in front of goaltender Ryan Bischel. It was fitting, then, on DU’s first power play of the night, Dornbach’s goal ended up as something of a fluke as Shai Buium’s screened shot from the point found its way through Bischel and hit the post before Dornbach slammed home the rebound.

By the end of the second period, Denver had a 3-1 lead with additional goals coming from Jack Devine on a power play and Carter Mazur with 40 seconds left and it felt like the Pioneers had the game wrapped up and put to bed with 20 minutes remaining. Notre Dame wouldn’t go away, though, scoring first in the third period, reducing the Pios’ lead to one and making the 5,859 fans at Magness Arena sweat. DU then had to kill off two big penalties just a few minutes apart to maintain the lead.

With under four minutes left, though, Ozar once again gave the Pioneers the spark they needed to restore the two-goal lead and put the game away. The fourth-line winger found the puck along the boards and led a two-on-one rush before finding McKade Webster in the slot where he was able to tap home the Pios’ dagger. It might be Webster’s easiest goal of the season, but it couldn’t have come at a better time in this young season.

For the Pioneers, though, even though it’s October, this victory is going to pay major dividends come March as this is their only Big 10 opponent this year and Notre Dame will no doubt be a national contender all season long. Every victory counts but for a team with record-breaking national title aspirations, some are more valuable than others and in nonconference play, it’s difficult to overstate the importance of this win.

Plus, thanks to this victory, they will be playing for the coveted Ice Breaker championship tomorrow night against Maine, who dispatched Air Force 4-1 in Colorado Springs tonight.

David Carle Postgame

Highlights

Top photo courtesy Justin Tafoya/Clarkson Creative Photography via Denver Athletics