We are concluding our three-part Denver-Boston University Frozen Four preview by taking a look at special teams. Could special teams be the difference when BU and DU hit the ice at the Xcel Energy Center tomorrow afternoon? If so, BU appears to have the edge, especially on the power play. DU must stay out of the box.
Starting with the Pioneers, Denver has scored 39 goals on 170 powerplay opportunities (22.9%) which ranks them 16th nationally. On the kill, however, the Pioneers are sitting at 77.6%, 45th nationally. However, that unit has been excellent since the postseason started. Denver’s PK unit has killed 13 of their 14 penalties between the NCHC and NCAA Tournaments to date. The lone PPG goal was scored by St. Cloud State in the Pioneers’ 5-4 overtime thriller in the Frozen Faceoff semifinals.
Even so, the Terriers have the #3-ranked power play unit in the country, clicking at an impressive 28.1% (they trail the two teams in the other semifinal, Michigan at 34.5% and Boston College at 29.9%) so the Pioneers, who average 10 penalty minutes per game need to do everything they can to keep the game at five-on-five and prevent the Terriers from going to work with the man advantage.
However, the Terriers’ PK unit has posted surprisingly similar numbers to the Denver unit and will be faced with a similar task of staying out of the box as a result. BU is ranked just ahead of DU at 36th nationally with their PK operating at a 79.1% efficiency. Where the difference may come into play, though, is the latest trend. Denver’s PK has been elite over the last few weeks while BU’s has been anything but. Until their regional final matchup with Minnesota which featured a whopping zero combined penalties between the Gophers and Terriers, they had given up at least one power play goal in three straight postseason games, including four in five chances in their 6-2 loss to crosstown rival Boston College in the Hockey East Championship.
If the Pioneers get the edge in power plays tomorrow afternoon, look for them to take advantage of a rare BU weakness. If they do get multiple looks on the power play, look for Jack Devine and Miko Mattika to lead the way up front with Zeev and Shai Buium co-quarterbacking the unit on defense. Devine (9) and Matikka (6) have combined for 15 power-play goals this year while the Buium Brothers have combined for 23 assists with the man advantage.
It’s not exactly a groundbreaking take to say that a major key to winning a playoff game is to stay out of the box but tomorrow afternoon, it really will ring true with two killing units that haven’t exactly set the world on fire with their numbers this year. In the postseason, though, when penalties are rarely called, clutching and grabbing is borderline encouraged, and refs opt to swallow their whistles instead of make a potentially controversial call, just one or two power plays could decide who advances to Saturday’s championship game and who heads home early.
Top photo courtesy of the Denver Gazette