After an effort that head coach David Carle generously described as “lackadaisical” led to a 3-1 loss to the visiting #6 seed Colorado College Tigers at Magness Arena last night, the #3 seed Denver Pioneers’ hopes to defend their 2024 NCHC Championship were on life support. But after an opening 10 minutes that left a lot to be desired, the Pioneers flipped the switch and cruised to a 6-3 Game Two victory to force a series-deciding Game Three tomorrow night.

Game Two’s veritable scoring spree could not have been more different from Game One’s defensive struggle. And it played right into DU’s high-flying hands. The only issue – CC picked up right where they left off a night ago, scoring just 2:15 into the game. From there, though, the teams alternated goals as Zeev Buium and Aidan Thompson sandwiched a pair of power-play goals around Tommy Middleton’s goal. It was a lackluster first-period effort for the Pioneers but they scored on both of their power plays to stay in the game and give them a chance to take over the game in the second period.

And boy, did they ever. Three minutes into the second period, Hagen Burrows crashed the net and tapped the puck into Mbereko’s glove, which was on the other side of the goal line. The call on the ice was no goal, but after a lengthy review, the call was overturned and Burrows was given his first collegiate goal and Denver had its first lead of the night. Three minutes later, Buium scored his second power-play goal of the night to give the Pioneers a two-goal lead, one that they would not relinquish. CC’s Bret Link scored on a power play a bit past the midway point of the second, but Connor Caponi tallied the dagger with two minutes left in the second with a wrister to restore the two-goal lead entering the third.

CC could not stay out of the box and out of their own way in this one and Denver took full advantage. The Tigers committed 11 penalties that resulted in a whopping nine DU power plays and two separate five-on-three looks in the third period. While the Pioneers were unable to convert on any of their final six man-up opportunities, they didn’t need to. CC was effectively salting the game away for them and all the Pioneers had to do was play effective, smart hockey in CC’s zone.

Sam Harris did, however, give the Pioneers a third-period insurance goal after forcing a neutral zone turnover before pulling off a perfect forehand-backhand move to beat goaltender Carsen Musser who entered the game early in the third period for Kaidan Mbereko. CC’s starting goalie appeared to injure himself moving to his right to make a pad save and tweaked something in his right leg. He could not put any weight on it as he left the ice with assistance.

With the dominant 6-3 victory, the Pioneers force tomorrow night’s game three with a chance to keep their NCHC title and NCAA Tournament auto bid hopes alive. It was an important, strong bounce-back effort that showed tremendous resilience for a team that has yet to hit on all cylinders this year. They’re going to be tested again tomorrow night, though, as CC’s season is now on the line – the Tigers cannot make the Tournament via an at-large bid – and the hardest thing to do in the sport is to end a team’s season.

For the moment, Denver is back up to #10 in the Pairwise Rankings after Ohio State beat Penn State in overtime this evening.

Game Three starts at 6 pm tomorrow at Magness Arena. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased here.

Highlights

Aidan Thompson buries the one-timer for tonight’s @Safeway Goal of the Game and knots the outing at 2-2. pic.twitter.com/V0d9uy48r6

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 16, 2025

The on-ice officials reviewed the initial no goal call but overturned it.

Hagen Burrows getting greasy in the crease. pic.twitter.com/U2Y62OhyyJ

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 16, 2025

This move by Sam Harris 🤤 pic.twitter.com/IukCWIKZJF

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 16, 2025

Top photo courtesy Isaac Wasserman/Clarkson Creative Photography via Denver Athletics