Michigan’s season ends in Frozen Four in double overtime
Michigan, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament, fell in double overtime to Denver, 4-3.
Denver scored a goal with fewer than three minutes remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime, 3-3, and neither team could break through for the better part of 35 minutes of overtime hockey, despite Michigan dominating in shots and chances. The Wolverines outshot the Pioneers, 52-26, but couldn’t find the decisive goal in time.
Even in the second overtime period, when Michigan was outshooting Denver 13-2 at one point, freshman goalie Johnny Hicks stood stalwart in net for the Pioneers, making a career high in saves and stonewalling the Michigan offense at every opportunity in the extra periods.
For Michigan, a 29th trip to the Frozen Four, the most all time, is another empty one as a title drought extending back to 1997 continues. The Big Ten hasn’t won a title since 2007 when Michigan State won, though Wisconsin advanced to the final with a win over North Dakota in the earlier semifinal.
Denver wins in 2OT, Michigan season ends in Frozen Four
Michigan was outplaying Denver thoroughly in the second overtime period, but all it took was one lapse. And that one lapse got Kent Anderson free in the slot coming down from his point position.
The defenseman beat Jack Ivankovic to the glove side and sends Denver to the national championship after a 4-3 win in double overtime. It’s Anderson’s sixth career goal.
Michigan at 52 shots, Johnny Hicks with career-high in saves
Hicks is on 49 saves in net for Denver, a career high for the young goaltender, and he keeps repelling the best Michigan can throw at him in these overtime periods. He’s made glove saves, blocker saves, kick saves, and even knocked a few pucks astray with his noggin.
If Denver hangs on to win this game, after getting outshot 52-25 through 90-plus minutes of hockey, it will be because of Hicks.
Michigan creates chances, can’t capitalize on power play to open OT2
Michigan and Denver are back to full strength after the Wolverines created some nice chances but couldn’t score on the :29 of power play to open the second overtime period.
Michigan has been producing far more offensive chances, but neither team has the winning goal to show for it.
Michigan, Denver scoreless in OT1 with Wolverines on power play to open OT2
Michigan will have about 30 seconds on the power play to open the second overtime as neither team found a winner in the first overtime.
Michigan has been the aggressor by and large, and is outshooting Denver by a notable margin. The Wolverines had a few juicy chances to end the game early in the overtime frame.
Denver managed to test Jack Ivankovic later in the overtime period, but both goalies — and the crossbar — held up.
Michigan goes 4-on-4 vs. Denver in OT
A penalty on Denver’s Sam Harris will have the teams 4-on-4 and then a brief power play for Michigan — about 50 seconds — as the final minute of the first overtime winds down.
Open ice could be favorable for the Wolverines trying to find a game winner.
A few seconds prior, Will Horcoff incidentally stepped on a Denver player’s hand
Boston Buckberger is back in the locker room for Denver after his hand got incidentally stepped on by Horcoff during a play at the blue line.
Horcoff had gone to kick the puck back into the zone as Buckberger dove ahead, with his hand getting in the line of fire. He immediately skated off the ice for medical attention.
Will Horcoff called for slashing with 2:26 left in 1st OT
After plenty of possible penalties got let go so far in overtime, Michigan forward Will Horcoff gets whistled for a slash with 2:26 left in the overtime period, sending Denver to the power play for the first time in the extra period. It’s the first power play for either team in the extra period.
This is the fifth power play of the game for Denver, and the Pioneers are 0-for-4 so far.
Johnny Hicks stands on his head for Denver
Hicks just kept Denver alive with a beautiful save with his left leg, as a Cole McKinney shot bounced to Garrett Schifsky on the edge of the crease. But Hicks sprawled across the face of his goal to stop the shot and keep the game going.
T.J. Hughes back on the ice
Hughes took a brief spell on the bench but has quickly gotten back on the ice for his ensuing shift. He’s probably playing through some pain, but the star forward is giving it a go.
T.J. Hughes comes up injured early in OT
It’s unclear what happened to Hughes, exactly, but Michigan’s Hobey Baker finalist skated off while favoring his right arm less than two minutes into the overtime period.
He’d be a big loss, both now in sudden death overtime and, potentially, in a national title game.
Michigan, Denver heading to overtime tied 3-3 after regulation
Michigan had taken a 3-2 lead with fewer than 10 minutes to play, but couldn’t hold it together long enough to see the game out in regulation as Denver knotted the score at 3-3 with fewer than three minutes to play.
Now the Pioneers and Wolverines are back to the same spot these two teams found themselves in the last time they played in the Frozen Four: Overtime.
Michigan buzzing in response, can’t break through
Michigan has peppered Johnny Hicks in response and is creating dangerous moments but the freshman goalie has been up to the task in the final minutes.
Denver equalizes vs. Michigan with 2:44 left
A puck thrown to the front from the corner gets deflected over Jack Ivankovic’s shoulder by Clarke Caswell, knotting the score at 3-3.
Michigan and Denver are now hustling to try and find a late game winner, lest this game go to overtime.
Michigan up with less than 4 minutes to play
Michigan is trying to hold on to this lead, being opportunistic to add a goal and go up by two but not risking any defensive lapses with a trip to the national title game in sight.
It’ll be a blue line faceoff on the edge of the Denver zone after an offsides call with 3:21 to play, with Michigan up, 3-2.
Jayden Perron puts Michigan ahead with power play goal
Michigan’s first power play against Denver, and Michigan gets a goal against Denver. It’s Perron firing one home from just above the circles, ripping a shot that Johnny Hicks never saw.
It’s a crucial goal just 48 seconds into the power play, beating Hicks glove slide and putting Michigan up, 3-2, with around nine minutes to play.
Michigan gets first power play opportunity with 9:46 left
After Denver went without getting called for a penalty for the last 110-plus minutes of playoff hockey against Michigan, it’ll be a cross checking penalty that finally puts the Wolverine on the power play. And it comes at an opportune time.
Michigan and Denver are knotted up, 2-2, with 9:46 to play in a national semifinal. Michigan hasn’t scored since a flurry of goals late in the first period and Denver has gone quiet since an equalizer early in the second. Now, Michigan has a golden opportunity to break the tie and get closer to a national title berth, putting the top-ranked power play in the country on the ice, at 31.6 percent conversion.
Michigan penalty kill stays perfect
Tyler Duke blocked a shot and Michigan cleared the zone a number of times while clogging up the shooting lanes and smother the Denver power play for a fourth time tonight.
The Pioneers aren’t particularly strong on the advantage, but that’s eight minutes of hockey on the penalty kill that have largely gone by without a threat for the Wolverines.
Denver heading to power play after boarding call on Michigan
Garrett Schifsky is called for the penalty this time and Denver will go to the power play for the fourth time this game. So far, the Pioneers have come up empty on the man advantage. And this comes at a crucial juncture of the game.
With under 15 minutes left in regulation and tied 2-2, the Wolverines will be trying to hold on to get back to 5-on-5 — or perhaps get a power play of its own, a seemingly impossibility for much of Thursday’s game — as Denver hunts a go-ahead goal to heap oodles of pressure on Michigan.
Michigan’s Malcolm Spence bowls over Denver goalie Johnny Hicks
Spence got in on a rush and had his shot saved by Hicks, who came across and to the edge of the crease, where Spence ran through his upper body while taking a hit from behind. Hicks stayed down for a spell and the play didn’t result in a penalty, as the contact was largely a result of bodies navigating a small space at speed and the check from a Denver skater.
Hicks will stay in the game after getting some medical attention, as the teams are tied, 2-2, with around 15 minutes to play.
Michigan kills off Denver penalty to open 3rd period
Tyler Duke is called for his third penalty, all coming in the front half of each of the respective periods, and once more the Michigan penalty kill comes through. Denver managed a handful of one timer chances but didn’t have anything overly threatening for the man advantage.
Now both teams will try to settle in to some 5-on-5 and hunt for the go-ahead goal.
Denver draws even, Michigan heads to 3rd period tied 2-2
A goal less than three minutes into the second period drew Denver even in the game before the two sides played an up-and-down period that somehow didn’t result in another goal.
Michigan managed to outshoot Denver in the second period, and had some quality scoring chances throughout the frame, but couldn’t beat Johnny Hicks. And it all sets up a decisive third period.
T.J. Hughes begging for call, can’t get it midway through 2nd
Hughes got dumped behind the Denver net after trying to jam a puck home, then got pinned down in what Hughes felt was interference. The television play-by-play announcer John Buccigross concurred, but to no avail for the Wolverines.
Michigan has yet to go on the power play in this game. Keen observers will recall the 2022 Frozen Four game between these teams ended without Denver being whistled for a penalty.
Denver can’t break through vs. Michigan PK, but scores right after
The Michigan penalty kill is still unblemished in this one, but yet again the Wolverines have given up a goal shortly after killing off a Denver power play.
This time it’s a blast from the point that Cale Ashcroft beat Jack Ivankovic with to knot the game at 2-2 less than three minutes into the second period. Ivankovic got screened by a Denver skater, and was late getting to his right to try and pummel the shot away with his blocker.
Michigan goes on penalty kill 19 seconds into 2nd period
A high sticking penalty will put Denver on the man advantage just seconds into the second period with Michigan holding a 2-1 lead.
Michigan up 2-1 on Denver after 1st period
Michigan went down 1-0 about halfway through the period before a two-goal burst in the final four minutes, with two goals coming in 60 seconds, put the Wolverines up 2-1 to go into the intermission.
Michigan opened on its heels a bit. Denver got zone pressure on offense and create strong chances, eventually turning over Michigan on the breakout to open the scoring.
But goals from Josh Eernisse and T.J. Hughes just 59 seconds apart, with Hughes getting a fortuitous rebound off the glass, put Michigan up to go into the break.
Michigan strikes twice in a minute, up 2-1 vs. Denver
This time it’s Michigan’s Hobey Baker Award finalist, T.J. Hughes, who got a great rebound on the backdoor and buried it behind Hicks to put Michigan up, 2-1, with a few minutes to play in the first frame.
It’s a rapid turnaround for the Wolverines, and a reminder of just how potent this Michigan offense can be when it’s clicking.
Wolverines draw even vs. Denver late in 1st period
Off an offensive zone draw, Josh Eernisse hopped on a loose puck for Michigan and ripped a shot past Denver goalie Johnny Hicks to tie the game, 1-1, with 3:42 left in the first period.
It was a quick strike goal for Michigan off the draw and got the Wolverines right back in the game after struggling to test Hicks at times in the early portion of the game.
Michael Hage making presence felt for Michigan
Hage had been out for Michigan for the opening game of the regional and played in a limited capacity in the regional final, but seems to be healthy tonight. And that’s good news for the Wolverines, as he’s one of the top offensive threats on the ice when he’s out there.
So far Hage has created a few strong chances, though the Wolverines are yet to cash in. And he appears to be playing a normal load of minutes for Michigan.
Denver takes 1-0 lead right after vs. Michigan
A defensive zone turnover for Michigan turned into disaster, as a few quick passes for the Pioneers got the puck on the stick of Kyle Chyzowski in the slot. He fired a shot that deflected off a Michigan defender low and beat Jack Ivankovic to put Denver up with 10:31 to play in the first period.
Now Michigan will play out of a 1-0 hole with half of the first period to play.
Michigan kills the penalty with ease
Denver only got one shot on goal, whiffed on another decent look, and otherwise didn’t threaten a Michigan penalty kill that’s been rock solid in the postseason.
The Wolverines have given up just one power play goal to date in three-plus postseason games.
Denver goes on early power play vs. Michigan
Tyler Duke is going away for holding with 13:17 left in the first period, putting Denver on the advantage.
Denver has been leading on shots early, and will have a chance to crank up the pressure on Michigan in a 0-0 game.
Michigan’s semifinal vs. Denver underway
Denver took possession and has gotten a few shots already on freshman Jack Ivankovic, as the Wolverines and Pioneers are underway in a national semifinal.
Michigan wins a faceoff after a frozen puck, and finally takes it into the Denver zone to get a shot on net.
Puck drop for Michigan-Denver moved back 15 minutes
The Wolverines and Pioneers will get going in the Frozen Four about 15 minutes later than originally scheduled.
Wisconsin took down North Dakota in the earlier game, advancing to the title game on Saturday evening. The Badgers took a 2-0 lead quickly in the first period with two goals in quick succession. Wisconsin clung to that lead until North Dakota nabbed back a goal with an empty net in the final minute, but ultimately held on to win 2-1.
Michigan primed for Frozen Four showdown vs. Denver
No. 1 overall seed Michigan faces Denver in the second of two Frozen Four matchups on Thursday evening in Las Vegas, with the Wolverines and Pioneers facing off after the opener between fellow No. 1 seed North Dakota and a Big Ten foe, Wisconsin.
Michigan is seeking its first national title since 1997, and the first for the Big Ten since MSU won the national championship in 2007.
To do so, Michigan will need to get past a Denver team that won its conference tournament and dominated Western Michigan in a regional final en route to this stage of the NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament. Denver goalie Johnny Hicks has been electric since taking over the starting job, and is undefeated in the dozen-plus games he’s started down the stretch run.
Michigan brings one of the best offenses in the sport, though, and has a special teams unit on the power play that can carry the Wolverines to a national title.
Frozen Four, national semifinal
NO. 1 MICHIGAN VS. DENVER
What: NCAA men’s ice hockey Frozen Four game
When: Thursday, approx. 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: ESPN2
Records: Michigan 31-7-1, Denver 27-11-3
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Recap: Denver stuns Michigan in double OT in Frozen Four
Reporting by Andrew Graham, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
