We know the teams that will be playing for the 2024 NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship.
Two of the country’s premier programs prevailed in exciting semifinals on Thursday in St. Paul, kicking off the Frozen Four.
Broz does it again for Denver
The first semifinal saw two teams duke it out all around the ice, with a familiar hero sending Denver to the national title game with a 2-1 win.
The opening period saw Boston University take control of the game, suffocating Denver from the drop of the puck. The Terriers outshot the Pioneers 10-3 in the first period, but a goal while BU was supposed to be focusing on defense broke the ice. Montreal Canadiens prospect Luke Tuch scored a shorthanded goal before the eight-minute mark of the opening period, his 21st of the season, helping send the Terriers into the second period up by one.
Denver started to calm things down in the second period, and started to push back. Late in the middle stanza, an error by BU’s Lane Hutson led to Tristan Lemyre scoring just his second goal of the season to tie the game.
DU had a glorious chance to take the lead before the end of the frame, but Chicago Blackhawks draft pick Aidan Thompson was robbed by BU’s Mathieu Caron, keeping the game tied heading into the third.
The third period was tense, with the referees putting their whistles away–for better or worse–allowing the Terriers and Pioneers to test each other’s limits. Both teams had chances to end the game in regulation, but no one would be able to do so, and for the 100th time in NCAA Tournament history, overtime was needed to determine a winner.
BU had some great opportunities early on in the extra frame, but were turned away by Pioneer netminder Matt Davis. Then, Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick Tristan Broz snuck a shot through the five-hole of Caron to give DU the win.
Broz also scored the game-winner in the Pioneers’ double-overtime win over UMass in the regional semifinals.
Boston University outshot Denver, 34-29, with Davis making 33 saves in the win, while Caron made 27 stops in a valiant effort.
Smith leads Boston College over Michigan
The second semifinal saw the potential for another classic matchup, but the no. 1 team in the nation flexed its muscle, as Boston College took care of Michigan, 4-0.
It was a helter-skelter start to the game, as bodies were flying, and chances were aplenty in the opening frame. The Eagles wasted little time getting on the board, as NHL prospects Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard set up San Jose Sharks prospect Will Smith to give BC the lead just over a minute into the game.
The Wolverines had some great chances before the end of the frame, but Boston College goaltender and Montreal Canadiens draft pick Jacob Fowler made some nice saves to keep his team out in front heading into the first intermission.
The score remained close for much of the second period, but that quickly changed in the latter half of the frame. First, a lucky bounce led to Smith scoring his second of the game and 25th of the season. Then, just 49 seconds later, the nation’s leading goal scorer, Cutter Gauthier—an Anaheim Ducks prospect—scored his 38th on the year to put Boston College up 3-0.
Michigan pulled out all the stops in the third period, firing 15 shots on Fowler, but the junior netminder turned them all away. Perreault, a New York Rangers prospect, scored on a pretty wraparound to cap off the night. The freshman ended the night with three points.
The Wolverines outshot the Eagles, 32-22, with Fowler posting his third shutout of the season. Jake Barczewski made 18 saves in the losing effort.
It was the first time Michigan had been shut out all season.
This was the Wolverines’ third straight trip to the Frozen Four, and the third consecutive year they have lost in the national semifinals.
Blue bloods for the championship
Coming into St. Paul, we all knew we were going to get a matchup between two legendary programs. Little did we know it would feature the country’s two top scoring attacks.
Denver has the No. 1 offense in the NCAA, and though they have not shown it at all in the tournament, they have proven they are more than a one-trick pony. With players like Broz, Florida Panthers prospect Jack Devine, and a healthy Massimo Rizzo, the Pioneers have what it takes to win a record 10th national championship.
However, Boston College seems like a team of destiny. The Hockey East Champions have been the top team in the country since late January, and haven’t given a reason why that should change. With seven players who won gold at the World Juniors this past January, a Hobey Baker hat-trick finalist in Gauthier, the nation’s leading scorer in Smith, and an excellent goaltender in Fowler, this unit has plenty of talent to win the team’s first title since 2012.
DU is 9-3 in championship games, but has not lost since 1973 (a loss vacated by the NCAA). BC is 5-6 in national title games.
The Pioneers beat the Eagles in Chestnut Hill back in October, and are 20-16 against Boston College all-time. Denver is 3-1 in national tournament matchups.
Three Stars
- Jacob Fowler, G, Boston College (Montreal Canadiens): The way Michigan came flying out in the third period, a slip-up by Fowler could have easily turned the game on its head.
- Will Smith, F, Boston College (San Jose Sharks): What more can you say about Smith. He has great vision, an excellent scoring touch and can be a catalyst by himself if need be.
- Matt Davis, G, Denver: While everyone kept pointing at the NHL talent scattered across the ice, the junior has done an excellent job all season for DU and came up big against a talented Terriers team.
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