ST. PAUL, Minn. — Boston University goalie Mathieu Caron made a remarkable save on Denver’s Aidan Thompson during the second period of Thursday’s NCAA Men’s Frozen Four semifinals. Here’s how it looked in photos from a camera in the catwalk of the Xcel Energy Center.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Top-seeded Boston College is one stop closer to its first national title since 2012.
The Eagles, thanks to their high-octane offense and 14 NHL draft picks, have been the favorites for much of the season. And they showed why against Michigan, beating the Wolverines 4-0 in their Frozen Four semifinal game on Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center.
They’ll take on Denver in Saturday’s national title game — a rematch from back in October when Denver beat BC 4-3 in Chestnut Hill.
“Any time someone commits to Boston College, it’s to win championships,” BC’s Cutter Gauthier said. “And we have an opportunity for that on Saturday. I’m super proud of our group up to this point. We know about these guys after we played an earlier matchup at Conte Forum … unfortunately we didn’t win then, but since then we’ve had a sour taste in our mouth so we’re going to be ready to go on Saturday.”
For the Eagles (34-5-1), it was the usual cast of characters who delivered when it mattered most. Gauthier scored his nation-leading 38th of the season, Will Smith netted two goals and Jacob Fowler made 32 saves for his third shutout of the season. And despite being outshot by the Wolverines 32-22, the Eagles finished their chances when it mattered.
“We probably deserved more, but we lost to a really good Boston College team,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “I feel like we were good, we weren’t great. What we did in the third is probably more what we are. They have four elite, elite, elite players. Their top guys scored four goals, and that’s the first time all year we’ve been shut out. So there’s no secret to how they won the game. Those guys broke the game open. Those guys are studs.”
Michigan (23-14-3) came into the game with the No. 3 scoring offense in the country (behind BC’s No. 2) and two of the nation’s top-10 leading scorers in Gavin Brindley and Rutger McGroarty. But BC managed to hold them off the scoreboard despite being outshot.
“It was an interesting game,” BC coach Greg Brown said. “I thought we did a great job of capitalizing when we had chances, but Michigan did a great job coming out of their zone with a ton of speed, so even when we were ahead a few goals, it never felt like we were in control or the game was settled.”
The Eagles took a 1-0 lead early in the game, a highlight-reel goal from their vaunted freshman line. Gabe Perreault picked up a loose puck deep in his own zone and hit Ryan Leonard with a cross-ice stretch pass deep behind the Michigan defense. Smith also snuck in behind the Michigan defenders and easily beat Michigan goaltender Jake Barczewski to finish off the bang-bang-bang play just 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game.
Despite that early deficit, Michigan seemed to control the pace of the game and had a few more grade A scoring chances.
The Wolverines outshot the Eagles 9-6 in the first 20 minutes, with Fowler flashing some nice leather a few times to keep it scoreless.
“Going into every game, it’s nice having him back there,” Smith said of Fowler. “He has such a confidence in net. We probably gave up a few too many odd-man rushes, so having him back there helped. He had 32 saves, he was just unreal in net.”
The turning point came in the second period when Michigan’s top-ranked power play got a chance to go to work. The Wolverines, who came into the game having converted on 34.5% of their power plays, had their first real chance on the man advantage when Gauthier was called for interference about five minutes into the middle frame. Michigan had two decent looks but one was blocked and the other went wide; it was not able to convert.
Michigan’s failure to convert on that power play chance haunt it later in the period. Although the Wolverines got their second power play a few minutes later when BC’s Drew Fortescue was called for a trip, that chance was short-lived. About 30 seconds after Fortescue went into the box, Michigan’s Dylan Duke was also whistled for a trip, negating the power play and opening up a lot of 4-on-4 ice for the dangerous Eagles offense.
BC made Michigan pay. First, Smith scored a goal that is the definition of “lucky bounce” when he skated around behind the Michigan goal and sent the puck into the slot for what was an attempt at a centering pass. However, the puck missed its intended target (Gauthier) and instead hit a Michigan defender before trickling in between Barczewski’s legs.
Less than a minute later, BC struck again. This time, Gauthier stripped the puck from a Michigan defender at the blue line and took it coast-to-coast for a no-doubter to make it 3-0.
Perreault put the finishing touches on the win early in the third period. Five minutes into the final frame, the freshman scored an unassisted wraparound goal to make it 4-0 and earn his third point, adding to the two assists he had on earlier goals.
Brown said it wasn’t until the Eagles went up 4-0 that they were able to breathe a little bit defensively.
“I thought the third period when we were ahead, we started to simplify our game, play a little safer, use the walls a little more, and we were able to do a nice job there keeping pucks out of the middle and spending more time not scrambling in our zone,” Brown said.
That’s not to say Michigan didn’t have its chances to get back in the game late. The Wolverines outshot the Eagles 17-8 in the third, and had one final power play opportunity midway through the period. However, none of their scoring chances seemed to be true threats to the Eagles.
“I was really happy with probably the second half, maybe second, probably 12, 13 minutes left in the third, we did a great job of really limiting their chances to come back and get in the game,” Brown said.
The win was BC’s 34th of the season, a program record. The Eagles will attempt to win their first NCAA championship since 2012, when the Johnny Gaudreau-led team beat Ferris State in the title game.
Smith said he has vivid memories of watching that team lift a trophy, and now the Lexington, Mass., native has the chance to do the same on Saturday.
“If you told me as a kid, this would be kind of crazy,” the 19-year old freshman said. “I remember the days I was watching Johnny Gaudreau in the Frozen Four. So it’s a dream come true. It would be unbelievable to get that trophy just like he did.”
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Early on, it looked like the Michigan Wolverines were up to the challenge despite facing the tournament’s top overall seed and falling behind in a hurry.
But once the deep and powerful Boston College Eagles got going halfway through the game, Michigan couldn’t respond and its pursuit of a 10th championship and first since 1998 came to a halt in a 4-0 defeat Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.
Meanwhile, the pursuit of a sixth title remains alive and well for the Hockey East regular-season and tournament champion Eagles, who have won 15 games in a row and 20 of their last 21.
They were outshot 32-22 by the Wolverines, but it always felt like Boston College was in control as it jumped on its opportunities.
“I thought we did a great job of capitalizing when we had chances,” BC coach Greg Brown said.
It didn’t take long for BC to make its presence felt as it scored just 1:20 into the contest with Will Smith converting on a 2-on-1 with Ryan Leonard. But Michigan ended up outshooting the Eagles 9-6 for the period and even had more chances, so the Wolverines wouldn’t go away quietly initially.
That is, until Smith, Hobey Baker Award finalist Cutter Gauthier and the mighty Eagles offense took control in the second period. Smith’s second goal, 24th of the season and nation-leading 71st point somehow went in from behind the net when his shot pinballed off both ankles of Michigan defenseman Ethan Edwards and through the five-hole of Jake Barczewski.
Then Gauthier scored his 38th goal of the season on a breakaway just 49 seconds later at 13:14, making it a 3-0 BC lead in a hurry and leaving the shellshocked Wolverines in a hole they couldn’t climb out of.
Gabe Perrault joined the fun with an easy-looking wraparound goal early in the third, basically summing up how easy his team has made it look at times this season. While young, they’re a skilled group.
“We’ve said many times we’re a very competitive group with a lot of high octane on the offensive side,” said Gauthier. “It’s just the confidence we had that we built up over the last eight, nine months in practice and competing against the best players in the country.”
Now the nation’s second most powerful offense (4.59 goals per game entering the Frozen Four) moves on to face the only team ahead of them in that department: Denver, a 2-1 overtime winner over Boston University earlier Thursday.
The Pioneers and Eagles met on Oct. 21 in Chestnut Hill, with DU handing BC its first loss of the season 4-3. It was one of two instances over the entire season where Boston College blew a third-period lead — it won its other 25.
“We’ve improved a lot,” Brown said when asked about that previous meeting. “Both teams are creating offense. And when you play against a team that’s that gifted offensively you know you have to manage the puck because if you give them free chances they’re going to make you pay.”
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Michigan Wolverines have faced adversity all season, according to coach Brandon Naurato, and Thursday’s 4-0 Frozen Four semifinal loss to Boston College was another example.
Down an early goal, Michigan responded by controlling play for much of the first period and for long stretches throughout, outshooting the Eagles 32-22, including 17-8 in the third period.
“(There was) adversity this year with the injuries and then having to fight for (everything),” said Naurato. “I felt like we were in the playoffs since the Christmas break and (I’m) super proud of the guys for the run that they went on and what we put together.”
Michigan couldn’t solve BC goalie Jacob Fowler, and the potent Wolverines power play never got going. The game turned on a Michigan penalty that negated a Wolverines power play, followed by two quick 4-on-4 goals by BC.
“It’s not an excuse or disclaimer but the turning point in that game is (when) one of their players trips over Dylan (Duke’s) skate and now it’s 3-0. We really had two power plays and we had extended possession both times and their guy made a ton of big-time saves.”
But Michigan never quit, according to forwards Gavin Brindley and Rutger McGroarty.
“You’re fighting for the end of your season,” said Brindley. “We were talking in the locker room (after the second period) to give a good push and see what happens. I’m extremely proud of the push we made and unfortunately, it didn’t go our way. But it was a hard third period.”
“It’s been our team all year,” said McGroarty. “We’ve battled day in, day out. There wasn’t a doubt in our minds (that we could come back). Even going into the third period, down three, there wasn’t a doubt in our mind.
“We’ve been doing it all year. This team went through so much adversity. There was no quit in this team. I feel like we just couldn’t buy one tonight.”
“I feel like we were good,” said Naurato. “We weren’t great. What we did in the third is probably more of what we are.”
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Here are five numbers to know from Boston College’s 4-0 win over Michigan in Thursday’s Frozen Four late semifinal game:
Boston College goalie Jacob Fowler notched his third shutout of the season in the win over Michigan on Thursday. Fowler has a .926 save percentage heading into the championship game, currently fourth in the nation.
The shutout was a turnaround from the .867 save percentage Fowler had in a 5-4 overtime win against Quinnipiac in the Providence Regional final.
It was also Fowler’s 32nd win of his rookie campaign, tying him for sixth all-time for wins in a season. If Fowler wins a national championship for BC on Saturday, he’ll move into a tie for fourth with Marty Turco’s junior and senior years at Michigan.
Out of reach is second place, held by Quinnipiac’s Yaniv Perets last season, and Turco’s 1995-96 sophomore season at 34 wins.
Minnesota State’s Dryden McKay stands atop the season wins record at 38 in 2021-22.
Michigan outshot Boston College 32-22 in the contest, including 17-8 in the third period.
BC has shown all season that it can still win despite being outshot. The Eagles improved to 13-3-1 this season when their opponents have more shots on net than them. The Wolverines had been 19-5-1 coming into Thursday’s game when outshooting their opponents.
Cutter Gauthier’s second-period goal upped his total to 38 on the season. That puts him in a three-way tie with Hobey Baker Award winner David Emma (1989-90) and former BC captain Scott Harlow (1985-86) for the BC season record.
Gauthier is the first player to reach 38 goals in a season since Ryan Potulny did it for Minnesota in 2005-06.
Boston College’s Will Smith increased his season point total to 71 with his two goals in Thursday’s semifinal.
Smith is the first player — and first freshman — to reach 71 since Kyle Connor did it in his lone season at Michigan in 2015-16. Boston University’s Jack Eichel also tallied 71 points in 2014-15 in his one-and-done year.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Playing less than 30 minutes away from his Bloomington, Minn., hometown, Denver’s Tristan Broz made the most of a big moment on Thursday.
Broz ripped a low, hard shot through the legs of Boston University goaltender Matthew Caron at 11:09 of overtime to send Denver to Saturday’s national title game with a 2-1 victory at the Xcel Energy Center.
Denver is searching for its record 10th national championship and second in three years.
Broz’s game winner began at the opposite end of the ice. Boston University failed to get the puck deep on a rush and the puck hit off the stick of Devin Kaplan. Denver’s Sean Behrens made a quick pass to Broz that began and odd-man rush. From there, Broz executed what he practiced just a day earlier.
“We ran that drill yesterday doing 2-on-1s and a few times I scored, just kind of no-look, trying to shoot five-hole,” said Broz, who played his freshman season of college hockey at nearby Minnesota before transferring to Denver last offseason. “And just kind of blacked out in that moment and it happened to go in.”
The resulting goal set off a celebration for the Pioneers as they won their third straight one-goal 2-1 decision in the NCAA tournament.
Denver had to handle significant early pressure from Boston University. The Terriers outshot Denver 10-3 in the opening period and had a significant advantage in quality chances.
They eventually potted one of those chances short-handed at 7:45 of the first.
Kaplan flicked a quick pass to Luke Tuch that sent him past the Pioneers defense on a breakaway. Tuch ripped a shot up high for his first career short-handed goal.
By the midway point of the game, BU had limited Denver to just six total shots on goal but never extended the lead.
“The first period we played very well,” said BU coach Jay Pandolfo. “We shot ourselves in the foot not to [continue to] play behind them. It’s been a little bit of an issue all year in the second period, not being able to put teams away.”
As Denver began to feel comfortable in the game, it established its forecheck and eventually forced a mental mistake by All-American defenseman Lane Hutson.
Behind his net, Hutson made a blind pass that was perfectly anticipated by Miko Matikka. He intercepted the puck and fed quickly to a wide-open Tristan Lemyre, who fired the puck five-hole on Caron at 15:21 to even the score. The goal came on just the eighth Pioneers shot of the game.
That injected the life that Denver needed, and the Pioneers hemmed the Terriers in their zone for the remainder of the second. With 23.4 seconds left, it looked as if Aidan Thompson was going to give the Pioneers their first lead when Davis made a perfect stretch pass to spring a 2-on-1. Appearing to be beat, Caron reached behind him for a glove save that robbed Thompson, sending the game to the third tied at 1.
It was in that final period that Boston University got into penalty trouble, three times heading to the box. Though the penalty kill was sharp and finished a perfect 4-for-4, Denver’s possession time increased and the Terriers struggled to find quality opportunities.
Denver remained disciplined all night and Boston University never got an opportunity on the power play.
“We spent the better part of three practices talking about [Macklin] Celebrini and [Lane] Hutson on the power play and how to defend that,” said Denver coach David Carle. “To not have to see that I think was a big factor in the victory.”
With those man advantages mounting for Denver, Caron continued to save the day for the Terriers, with his biggest save coming on Denver’s scoring leader Jack Devine as a Denver power play ended. A rebound popped right to Devine’s stick and he made a move past Caron, but the junior netminder reached his arm across to stop the puck with 9:13 left.
At the other end of the ice, it wasn’t so much the goaltender stealing the show but the post. Lane Hutson took a feed from Celebrini with 3:33 left and ripped it off the inside of the post. That was one of the final great looks the Terriers had.
The loss ended the Terriers’ season in the national semifinal for the second straight season. It did not, though, take away from the growth Pandolfo felt his team has made in that time.
“I really feel for our seniors,” said Pandolfo. “They’ve done a great job the last two years re-establishing the culture of what it means to be a Terrier.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — In yet another low-scoring battle, Denver’s potent offense was held in check for the third consecutive game.
But for the third straight time, the Pioneers were able to find just enough to advance to Saturday’s NCAA final with a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory over Boston University Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.
It’s the second championship game appearance for DU in three years.
Denver always seems to have a flair for the moment in the NCAA tournament. The Pioneers have been held to less than half of their scoring average of 4.71 goals per game entering Thursday and only managed two once again.
Yet after shaking off a poor first 31 minutes offensively to rally for the win, they’re on the verge of a record-setting 10th title nonetheless. But how?
“I thought BU started excellent,” Pioneers coach David Carle said. “But as the game went on, I thought our guys got more comfortable with the pace of the game, sort of winning races, able to put them on their heels a little bit in the second and third.”
Defense, which had been a problem for Denver at times this season — particularly in the first half — has been very good for much of the last month and a half, especially in the NCAA tournament. Normally when a team can hold that offense in check, it has a good chance of winning.
But Denver has figured it out at the right time, and it came through in the clutch once again on offense when it needed to, even if that offense hasn’t buried opponents in a barrage of goals.
“Obviously, we’re also facing really good teams, you know, very good defensively,” said Carle.
Tristan Broz, a native of nearby Bloomington, Minn., who previously played for Minnesota, provided the latest game-winning goal for his current team on a blast from the top of the right circle. The junior has filled in well for his team while Massimo Rizzo missed time, and while Rizzo recovered enough to return to the lineup Thursday, Broz still keeps making plays.
Broz relished his chance in his return to his home state.
“I think that’s what every kid dreams of,” Broz said when asked about playing in the building he used to come to when he was younger.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — As the NCAA tournament whittles down to the last team standing, every game becomes harder to win.
That was the case Thursday for Boston University, which started strong against Denver but ultimately couldn’t find the knockout punch it needed. The Pioneers slowly wrestled momentum away from the Terriers and ultimately prevailed 2-1 in overtime to advance to the national championship game on Saturday.
“The margin of error in these one-and-dones is very slim,” BU coach Jay Pandolfo said. “We made some mistakes that cost us, and there’s no tomorrow for us. So it’s a tough tournament. It’s a very tough tournament to win.”
The Terriers controlled play in the opening period and were rewarded at 7:45 when senior Luke Tuch won a race for the puck and converted for a short-handed goal to put the Terriers up 1-0.
BU outshot Denver 10-3 in the first period and carried that momentum into the second before a giveaway behind the Terriers net resulted in Tristan Lemyre’s second goal of the season to even things up.
Denver gained momentum after that goal and had several grade-A opportunities thwarted by BU net minder Mathieu Caron, but Tristan Broz’s game-winner 11:09 into overtime ended the Terriers’ season.
“I thought the first period we played very well,” said Pandolfo. “(Through) the first 12 minutes of the second period, I think, they may have had five or six shots. And I thought we shot ourselves in the foot a little bit by not continuing to play behind them. They got a little bit of momentum and then they found a way to score a goal.”
“(Early in the game), (BU) was winning all the 50/50 races to the walls,” Denver coach David Carle said. “I thought in the second period we started to win some of those. When you win the first one, it’s easier to win the second and third one in the offensive zone, and that led to some of our possession time that we were able to generate.”
The Terriers’ chances 5-on-5 dwindled as the game went on, and BU’s potent power play never had a chance. Denver had four power plays to none for BU.
“(The lack of power plays) is not the reason we lost the game,” said Pandolfo. “We have to find ways to put teams away 5-on-5, and we didn’t do that.”
For the second season in a row, Boston University’s season ended one win away from the title game. Failure to put the Pioneers away early proved costly.
“That’s the difference in games like this,” said Pandolfo. “You don’t have another opportunity. Of course, do you need a little bit of puck luck and bounces here and there? Of course you do, but you’ve got to create that, too.
“We didn’t create enough of that tonight after the way we played the first half of the game.”
ST. PAUL, Minn. — USCHO’s Ed Trefzger and Derek Schooley, head coach at Robert Morris, break down Boston College’s 4-0 win over Michigan in the 2024 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four semifinals.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Top-seeded Boston College is one stop closer to its first national title since 2012.
The high-octane Eagles offense showed exactly why it has been the favorite for much of the season, defeating Michigan 4-0 in their Frozen Four semifinal game on Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center.
And it was the Eagles’ big-time players who stepped up in key situations. Freshman phenom Will Smith scored a pair of goals, sophomore Cutter Gauthier scored his nation-leading 38th of the season and freshman Gabe Perreault added a fourth to propel the Eagles (34-5-1) to Saturday’s national title game against Denver.
Boston College led 1-0 after the first period, thanks to some big saves from goaltender Jacob Fowler and an early goal from Smith and their vaunted freshman line.
BC got an early highlight-reel goal from Smith after Perreault picked up a loose puck deep in his own zone and hit Ryan Leonard with a cross-ice stretch pass deep behind the Michigan defense. Smith also snuck in behind the Michigan defenders and easily beat Michigan goaltender Jake Barczewski to finish off the bang-bang-bang play just 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game.
But in general, Michigan seemed to control the pace of the game and had a few more grade A scoring chances. The Wolverines outshot the Eagles 9-6 in the first 20 minutes, with Fowler flashing some nice leather a few times to keep it scoreless.
Boston College got a chance to extend its lead a little later in the period when Michigan’s Mark Estapa was called for a boarding penalty midway through the first. That opportunity was short-lived, however, as Leonard was called for a hook on Michigan’s Tyler Duke 35 seconds into their man advantage. Neither team was able to generate much on their brief power-play chances.
BC got another power play opportunity shortly after this, when Estapa again went to the box, this time for a trip at the 4:10 mark. However, Michigan’s penalty kill unit, which came into the game ranked 45th in the country, held the Eagles off the scoreboard.
The Eagles had a chance to go up 2-0 early in the second period. About 90 seconds into the middle frame, Leonard was able to carry the puck into the slot and escape a number of defenders but Barczewski made a sprawling save to deny Leonard.
The Wolverines, who came into the game having converted on 34.5% of their power plays, had its first real chance on the advantage in the second period. BC’s Gauthier was called for interference but BC’s penalty kill, which also happens to be the best in the country, was up to the task and didn’t let the Wolverines have any good chances.
Michigan’s failure to convert on that power play chance would haunt it later in the period. Although it appeared the Wolverines would get their second power play chance a few minutes later when BC’s Drew Fortescue was called for a trip, that chance was short-lived. About 30 seconds after Fortescue went into the box, Michigan’s Duke was also whistled for a trip, negating the power play and opening up a lot of 4-on-4 ice for the dangerous Eagles offense.
BC made Michigan pay. First, Smith scored a goal that is the definition of “lucky bounce” when he skated around behind the Michigan goal and sent the puck into the slot for what was an attempt at a centering pass. However, the puck missed its intended target (Gauthier) and instead hit a Michigan defender before trickling in between Barczewski’s legs.
Less than a minute later, BC struck again. This time Gauthier stripped the puck from a Michigan defender at the blue line and took it coast-to-coast for a no-doubter.
If the game wasn’t over when BC took the 3-0 lead on Gauthier’s breakaway, Perreault shoved the dagger in for good early in the third. Five minutes into the final frame, Perreault scored an unassisted wraparound goal to make it 4-0 — his third point of the game, adding to the two assists he had on earlier goals.
That’s not to say Michigan didn’t have its chances to get back in the game late. The Wolverines outshot the Eagles 17-8 in the third, and had one final power play opportunity midway through the period. However, none of their scoring chances seemed to be true threats to the Eagles, who seemed to be most interested in letting the clock tick off.
Both teams were held without a power play goal; Michigan went 0-for-4 and BC was 0-for-3.
Fowler finished the game with 32 saves for the Eagles and recorded his third shutout of the season. Barczewski stopped 18 shots.
ST. PAUL, Minn. – After grinding out a 1-0 lead in the first period, top-ranked Boston College gave itself some breathing room in the second period on Thursday night.
The Eagles scored two late 4-on-4 goals to give themselves a 3-0 lead over Michigan after 40 minutes of play in their Frozen Four semifinal game at Xcel Energy Center.
The Eagles led 1-0 after the first period, thanks to some big saves from goaltender Jacob Fowler and an early goal from Will Smith and their vaunted freshman line.
BC got an early highlight-reel goal from Smith after his teammate Gabe Perreault picked up a loose puck deep in his own zone and hit Ryan Leonard with a cross-ice stretch pass deep behind the Michigan defense. Smith also snuck in behind the Michigan defenders and easily beat Michigan goaltender Jake Barczewski to finish off the bang-bang-bang play just 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game.
But in general, Michigan seemed to control the pace of the game and had a few more grade A scoring chances. The Wolverines outshot the Eagles 9-6 in the first 20 minutes, with Fowler flashing some nice leather a few times to keep Michigan scoreless.
Boston College got a chance to extend its lead a little later in the period when Michigan’s Mark Estapa was called for a boarding penalty midway through the first. That opportunity was short-lived, however, as Leonard was called for a hook on Michigan’s Tyler Duke 35 seconds into their man advantage. Neither team was able to generate much on their brief power-play chances.
BC got another power play shortly after this, when Estapa again went to the box, this time for a trip. However, Michigan’s penalty kill unit, which came into the game ranked 45th in the country, held the Eagles off the scoreboard.
The Eagles had an early chance to go up 2-0 early in the second period. About 90 seconds into the middle frame, Leonard was able to carry the puck into the slot and escape a number of defenders but Barczewski made a sprawling save to deny Leonard.
The Wolverines, who came into the game having converted on 34.5% of their power plays, had their first real chance on the advantage in the second period. BC’s Cutter Gauthier was called for interference but BC’s penalty kill, which also happens to be the best in the country, was up to the task and didn’t let the Wolverines have any good chances.
Michigan’s failure to convert on that power play chance was costly later in the period. Although the Wolverines got their second power play chance a few minutes later when BC’s Drew Fortescue was called for a trip, that chance was short-lived. About 30 seconds after Fortescue went into the box, Michigan’s Duke was also whistled for a trip, negating the power play and opening up a lot of 4-on-4 ice for the dangerous Eagles offense.
BC made Michigan pay. First, Smith scored a goal that is the definition of “lucky bounce” when he skated around behind the Michigan goal and sent the puck into the slot for what was an attempt at a centering pass. However, the puck missed its intended target (Gauthier) and instead hit a Michigan defender before trickling in between Barczewski’s legs.
Less than a minute later, BC struck again. This time Gauthier stripped the puck from a Michigan defender at the blue line and took it coast-to-coast for a no-doubter.
The Eagles went into the intermission up 3-0 and had also turned the tables on Michigan’s momentum, outshooting them 8-6 in the second period.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Boston College needed its difference-makers to be in the right place at the right time in the first period on Thursday night.
Although the top-seeded Eagles led 1-0 after the first period, it took some big saves from goaltender Jacob Fowler and an early goal from their vaunted freshman line to fend off a feisty Michigan squad in their Frozen Four semifinal game at Xcel Energy Center.
The Eagles got an early highlight-reel goal from freshman Will Smith after his teammate Gabe Perreault picked up a loose puck deep in his own zone and hit Ryan Lenoard with a cross-ice stretch pass deep behind the Michigan defense. Smith also snuck in behind the Michigan defenders and easily beat Michigan goaltender Jake Barczewski to finish off the bang-bang-bang play just 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game.
But in general, Michigan seemed to control the pace of the game and had a few more grade A scoring chances. The Wolverines outshot the Eagles 9-6 in the first 20 minutes, with Fowler flashing some nice leather a few times to keep it scoreless.
Boston College got a chance to extend its lead when Michigan’s Mark Estapa was called for a boarding penalty midway through the first. That opportunity was short-lived, however, as Leonard was called for a hook on Michigan’s Tyler Duke 35 seconds into their man advantage. Neither team was able to generate much on their brief power-play chances.
BC got another power play shortly after this, when Estapa again went to the box, this time for a trip. However, Michigan’s penalty kill unit, which came into the game ranked 45th in the country, held the Eagles off the scoreboard.
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Here are five numbers to know from Denver’s 2-1 overtime win over Boston University in Thursday’s NCAA Men’s Frozen Four early semifinal game:
Denver goalie Matt Davis has given up just three goals on 106 shots in the NCAA tournament for a .972 save percentage in three one-goal games. Davis came into the Springfield Regional with a .908 save percentage.
The record for a minimum of two NCAA games is held by UMass’ Filip Lindberg with .9865 in 2021. He’s followed by Cornell’s Ken Dryden at .9861 in 1967.
Luke Tuch’s short-handed goal to give Boston University a 1-0 lead was the first of his four-year career with the Terriers, coming in his 121st game. It was the third short-handed tally allowed by Denver in its last nine games.
The last shorty in the Frozen Four was by UMass forward Philip Lagunov to go up 3-0 over St. Cloud State in the 2021 championship game in Pittsburgh.
BU scored only once in four games this season, all resulting in losses.
Denver has not scored fewer than two goals in any game this season. The Pioneers have needed only two in their last three contests.
Both Springfield Regional games saw 2-1 wins by DU, first over UMass in two overtimes, and against Cornell to advance to the Frozen Four. The Pioneers are 12-0 this season when holding opponents to one goal or fewer.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Denver’s No. 1 offense and Boston University’s fourth best have averaged a combined 8.86 goals per game this season.
Bookmakers expected a high-scoring game and set the over/under — expected combined goals scored — at seven. By the end of the second period, in-game over/under had dropped to 4.5 and to 3.5 midway through the third.
Getting scored upon first hasn’t rattled Denver much. With Thursday’s win, the Pioneers have gone 15-4-2 this season when their opponent scores first. That was in contrast to Boston University, which was 21-4-0 this season entering Thursday’s semifinal.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Here are photos from Denver’s 2-1 overtime victory over Boston University in the first NCAA Men’s Frozen Four semifinal on Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — USCHO’s Ed Trefzger and Derek Schooley, the head coach at Robert Morris, analyze Denver’s 2-1 overtime win over Boston University in the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four semifinals Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Denver’s Tristan Broz fired a low, hard shot between the legs of Boston University goaltender Mathieu Caron at 11:09 of overtime as the Pioneers knocked off the Terriers 2-1 on Thursday to earn a spot in Saturday’s national championship game.
The play began in the Boston University zone as Devin Kaplan couldn’t handle a pass through the slot area. That sent Denver up ice on a 3-on-2 with Broz carrying the puck across the line. Thinking shot, he fired a low rocket that hit the net bottom and bounced out so quickly many in the crowd didn’t realize it had gone in.
The goal ended a thrilling opening game where Boston University had countless opportunities early to extend an early one-goal lead. Denver persevered, tied the game in the second and found a way to win in the extra session.
It was Denver’s third straight 2-1 victory in the NCAA tournament and second that ended in overtime.
Power plays were the story of the game. The Terriers put Denver on the man advantage four times, including three times in the third.
Denver took just one penalty, a matching minor in overtime, meaning Boston University’s power play never saw the ice.
The Terriers began the game fast as Kaplan was stopped on a one-timer by Denver goaltender Matt Davis (33 saves) just 45 seconds in. Denver didn’t have a shot until 5:50 of the first, but that led to Carter King with a great look on a rebound that BU’s Caron (27 saves) stopped.
Seconds later, the Terriers took the game’s first penalty but instead of Denver’s power play capitalizing, BU scored short-handed.
Kaplan flicked a quick pass to Luke Tuch that sent him past the Pioneers defense on a breakaway. Tuch ripped a shot up high for his first career short-handed goal at 7:45.
Through the middle frame, the Terriers continued to hold a strong territorial advantage but a mental mistake by All-American defenseman Lane Hutson allowed Denver to strike back.
Behind his net, Hutson made a blind pass that was perfectly anticipated by Miko Matikka. He intercepted the puck and fed quickly to a wide-open Tristan Lemyre, who fired the puck five-hole on Caron at 15:21 to even the score. The goal came on just the eighth Pioneers shot of the game.
That goal gave Denver life, and the Pioneers hemmed the Terriers in their zone for the remainder of the second. With 23.4 seconds left, it looked as if Aidan Thompson would give the Pioneers their first lead when Davis made a perfect stretch pass to spring a 2-on-1. Appearing to be beat, Caron reached behind him for a glove save that robbed Thompson, sending the game to the third tied at 1.
Caron remained sharp in the third with his biggest save coming on Denver’s scoring leader Jack Devine as a Denver power play ended. A rebound popped right to Devine’s stick and he made a move past Caron, but the junior netminder reached his arm across to stop the puck with 9:13 left.
At the other end of the ice, it wasn’t so much the goaltender stealing the show, but the post. Lane Hutson took a feed from Macklin Celebrini with 3:33 left and ripped it off the inside of the post.
Boston University led in shots through regulation, 25-23, but Denver outshot the Terriers in the third, 12-5.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Tristan Broz fired a shot through Boston University goalie Mathieu Caron’s pads in overtime, sending Denver to the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four championship game with a 2-1 win on Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center.
Here’s video of the goal that sent the Pioneers past the Terriers.
DENVER TO THE SHIP!!!!!!!!!
📺 ESPN2#MFrozenFour x @DU_Hockey pic.twitter.com/h8IbLJP8HY
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 12, 2024
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Here are photos from Boston College’s 4-0 win over Michigan in the Men’s Frozen Four semifinals on Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Boston University’s Luke Tuch scored short-handed in the first and Denver’s Tristan Lemyre took advantage of a Terriers mistake in the second as BU and Denver were tied after regulation play in the opening semifinal of the 2024 Men’s Frozen Four on Thursday.
Denver began the overtime period with a 47-second power play after BU’s Dylan Petersen was whistled for boarding at 18:47 of the third.
Power plays were the story of the game. The Terriers put Denver on the man advantage four times, including three times in the third.
Denver did not take a penalty through regulation.
The Terriers began the game fast as Devin Kaplan was stopped on a one-timer by Denver goaltender Matt Davis just 45 seconds in. Denver didn’t have a shot until 5:50 of the first, but that led to Carter King with a great look on a rebound that BU’s Mathieu Caron stopped.
Seconds later, the Terriers took the game’s first penalty but instead of Denver’s power play capitalizing, BU scored short-handed.
Kaplan flicked a quick pass to Tuch that sent him past the Pioneers defense on a breakaway. Kaplan ripped a shot up high for his first career short-handed goal at 7:45.
Through the middle frame, the Terriers continued to hold a strong territorial advantage but a mental mistake by All-American defenseman Lane Hutson allowed Denver to strike back.
Behind his net, Hutson made a blind pass that was perfectly anticipated by Miko Matikka. He intercepted the puck and fed quickly to a wide-open Lemyre, who fired the puck five-hole on Caron at 15:21 to even the score. The goal came on just the eighth Pioneers shot of the game.
That goal gave Denver life, and the Pioneers hemmed the Terriers in their zone for the remainder of the second. With 23.4 seconds left, it looked as if Aidan Thompson would give the Pioneers their first lead when Davis made a perfect stretch pass to spring a 2-on-1. Appearing to be beat, Caron reached behind him for a glove save that robbed Thompson, sending the game to the third tied at 1.
Caron remained sharp in the third with his biggest save coming on Denver’s scoring leader Jack Devine as a Denver power play ended. A rebound popped right to Devine’s stick and he made a move past Caron, but the junior netminder reached his arm across to stop the puck with 9:13 left.
At the other end of the ice, it wasn’t so much the goaltender stealing the show, but the post. Lane Hutson took a feed from Macklin Celebrini with 3:33 left and ripped it off the inside of the post.
Boston University led in shots through regulation 25-23 but Denver outshot the Terriers in the third 12-5.
