Heading into this rivalry game, four things seemed to be true. One, DU would outshoot Colorado College. Two, there would be penalties and skirmishes. Three, the score would be tight heading into the third period. Four, DU would leverage their talent and experience to ultimately seize the game. Just like Friday night’s game to clinch the Gold Pan, this 4-3 win held many similarities to the night before. And, while Friday’s game was for the Gold Pan, Saturday was all about Pairwise and avoiding the bubble. DU sits in 9th nationally after the win.
No surprise, the first period was penalty-filled as both teams wanted to make a statement. It only took 23 seconds when Kieran Cebrian and Phillippe Blaise-Savoie mixed it up and were summoned to the box. At the five-minute mark, CC was called for a charge on Matt Davis along the boards and escorted to the sin bin. A minute-and-a-half later, DU’s Samu Salminen was called for a trip putting DU a man short but no damage by the Tigers. Denver continued to assault the Tiger net front. With seven minutes left, CC was caught with too many men on the ice. Despite grade ‘A’ opportunities on the powerplay, DU could not solve Kaiden Mbereko. Once again, DU doubled up CC on shots 28(15) to 12(6). DU came up empty on three first-period power-play opportunities.
Two minutes into the second period, CC’s Fisher Scott went in the box for hooking. Denver was quickly rewarded with a bang-bang goal on a sweet feed from Aidan Thompson to Jack Devine who found the five-hole on Mbereko, 1-0. Shortly thereafter, Zeev Buium was called for interference at the seven-minute mark and CC struck as the Tigers Noah Laba and Zaccharya Wisdom fed a charging Gleb Veremyev who beat Davis on a laser, 1-1. Following the equalizer, Denver went on the power play AGAIN but could not generate a scoring play as the Tigers pressed the puck. The game devolved into an uneven penalty fest. CC was called for their sixth and seventh penalties and DU’s Sam Harris and Jack Devine went to the box for contact with Mbereko and roughing, respectively. Coming out of the four-on-four penalties, at even strength, DU’s Boston Buckberger sent a blue line seeing eye rope that took away Mbereko’s eyes, 2-1. Less than a minute later, DU’s Carter Caponi went to the box for charging giving Denver little chance to catch their breath. DU weathered CC’s man advantage (yet again) and the teams went even-strength the rest of the period. Zeev Buium finished the period weaving through CC’s defenders and clanked a shot off the right post to end the chaos, 2-1. Six more penalties were called in the period, three on each side. DU doubled up CC on shots 22(12) – 12(4) yet only held a narrow one-goal margin.
The final period was everything you might expect. A back-side feed and tap-in goal three minutes into the third period by DU’s James Reeder gave the Pioneers a 3-1 edge. Denver looked confident and seized the pace, energized with the lead. A charging Zeev Buium went short-side on Mbereko on a back-feed from Devine, 4-1. What looked like the CC backbreaker did not last long. CC’s Wisdom returned the favor with 12 minutes remaining on a forehand shot from the right circle, 4-2. DU started to play not to lose as CC’s Owen Beckner delivered a well-deserved wrap-around goal, 4-3. All the momentum, and shots, went to the Tigers over the next 10 minutes as DU started to dump the puck into the CC end and play defense. CC pulled Mbereko with two and a half minutes remaining. Denver weathered the CC storm, deep breath, final score 4-3.
If you think this rivalry is over this seson, think again. DU gets another shot at CC at home next weekend for the NCHC playoffs.
Another heart stopper. DU totally lost their cool in the last 10 minutes of the game. Looking forward to next weekend’s rematches. They should be barn burners.
The sweep was what the Pioneers needed and delivered, and kudos to them for that, earning home ice and a third place league finish. It’s hard to sweep in this league, especially against a hated local rival, and the Pios got the job done when it mattered. I am sure the Pios enjoyed singing the fight song in the locker room with the Gold Pan, too.
The Pios are deeper and more talented than CC is, but don’t sell the Tigers short on fight and heart. The Tigers had plenty of it, despite some sloppy plays that helped the Pios to go up 4-1 in the third.
At this time of year, closing out games is what is important, and the Pios made strong progress in that regard after several second half losses where good close-outs did not happen.
That said, Saturday night, the ice really tilted in CC’s favor in the third period after DU went up 4-1 and Davis didn’t cover the post on Wisdom’s goal for CC, and a bad bounce goal off Boston Buckberger (on Beckner’s wrap-around) to bring the Tigers back. 4-3 when the roof blew off Robson Arena and the Tigers had all the momentum.
DU still needs to work on puck management late in games – several bad clears, ill advised passes and poor decision making gave the Tigers life.
So, we’ll do it all again next weekend at Magness against CC in the league tourney first round. I hope the DU students will turn out again in big numbers as DU could use the emotional support. CC will be fighting for its season and DU will be fighting for NCAA placement as well as pride. Given CC’s low PWR at #37, beating the Tigers again may do very little to help the Pios in NCAA seeding. DU is a 99% lock now for the NCAAs, and seems much pretty locked into a #9 seed and a trip East for the first round, likely in top ranked BC’s regional in Manchester (if they played the NCAAs today).
Go Pios.
Let’s celebrate another victory against CC! The Big 10 will loaded for NCAA hockey tourney. North Dakota seems in danger of not being among the 16. I did note the final NCHC standings and Miami at 0-23 should be a concern for the rest of the schools.
Didn’t see any of the game, but I was super happy (and relieved) that DU was finally able to earn a sweep against an NCHC opponent other than Miami. The last sweep against a league foe other than the Redhawks was against UND way back in mid-November. A sweep vs CC makes it extra special. Sound as though CC had a massive push in the 3rd period, and DU had to weather quite the storm.
Next weekend is going to be a battle. Obviously CC’s season is on the line. Can’t wait.
Despite some angst and consternation over the past few months, DU finished the regular season with 26 wins. The only other teams to win 26 games are BC and WMU. Not too shabby. After the 12-0 start, DU went 14-9-1. Hopefully some good lessons were learned as the Pios prepare for the postseason. I’m excited to see what this team can do.