The #4 Denver Pioneers (9-5-1, 5-1-0 NCHC) never led but it didn’t stop them from making the 2025 United States Hockey Hall of Fame Game a fantastically entertaining affair, falling behind 1-0, 3-1, and 5-4 to the Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-9-1, 3-3-0 Big 10) before tying the game at 5-5 with just 23 seconds left. Even in overtime, the Pioneers made it a nailbiter, hitting a post and forcing UMN goalie Luca Di Pasquo to make massive save after massive save. It wasn’t until Javon Moore found himself on a short breakaway on DU goalie Quentin Miller, who had his first bad game as a Pioneers, that the Gophers finally ended a thriller at Ball Arena, with Minnesota winning, 6-5.

Despite outshooting the Gophers 52-25 through almost 65 minutes of play, it was not, by any means, the Pioneers best game. Frankly, it was one of their worst, especially in the defensive zone and on the penalty kill, which failed to successfully record a kill in two tries. And with very few select exceptions (five of them to be specific), none of Denver’s 49 regulation shots on goal even threatened the back of the net. Sure, Di Pasquo made a big save or two here and there throughout regulation, but for the most part, Denver made his job quite easy and showed the college hockey world why they are the #1 team in the sport in expected goals per game at five-on-five, but a miserable 30th in goals scored above expected.

In other words, despite their objectively dominant play in all phases, Denver is struggling mightily to finish their chances. Assuming regression to the mean happens between now and the end of the season, that’s tremendous news, but for now, even in a high-scoring 6-5 late November overtime affair, it’s mightily frustrating.

Now, that’s not to say there were no bright spots for the Pioneers. After all, they never trailed, but they battled back time and again throughout this game, despite Miller’s first abysmal outing as DU’s netminder (even Matty Davis had his fair share), and made sure the game never got out of reach. Samu Salminen scored two gritty goals at the net-front in the third period, while Boston Buckberger opened DU’s scoring and then scored the tying goal with the extra skater in the third. Eric Pohlkamp also added his 11th goal of the season to tie the game at 4 with under 8 minutes to play in regulation. And this battle comes on the heels of last Saturday’s comeback effort at Arizona State that also fell short in the final minute of overtime.

Look, this result at Ball Arena against a struggling Big 10 team on such a large stage in front of nearly 13,000 in attendance is tough to stomach. But if the first two months, and the last two weeks specifically, of the season have shown us anything, it’s this – these Pioneers can score with the best of them, but they’re also gritty as hell. Even on nights like this one, where not everyone put forth their best games, they’re not going to be outcompeted or outhustled. Sure, Minnesota got all of the bounces tonight (and my goodness, were there plenty of them), but sometimes in hockey – especially at this level – the best team doesn’t always win. And you best believe the Gophers were not the best team at Ball Arena tonight.

Denver is and should remain the best even-strength team in the country after tonight, and they will only improve from here. Now, DU’s attention turns to next weekend’s home series with Miami (OH), which just won the Friendship Four in Belfast with victories over RIT and Union, before a road series with St. Cloud State to close out the first half of the season. Even with tonight’s disappointing result on “neutral” ice, there is no reason why the Pioneers shouldn’t finish this portion of the schedule at 4-0.

Tickets to next weekend’s series vs. the Redhawks at Magness Arena are available here and here.