Matt Davis backstops Denver to 10th National Championship

Secondary Scoring

Denver’s depth was on full display in the games leading up the National Championship.

Against UMass in the Springfield Regional semifinal, it was Boston Buckberger and Tristan Broz. Against Cornell, it was Miko Matikka and Sam Harris. In the Frozen Four semifinals, it was Tristan Lemyre and Broz again.

Point being, the Pioneers found a way to win these games without any goals from Jack Devine or Massimo Rizzo, with the latter returning from injury against Boston University.

On Saturday night, it was no different. Wright, who had 14 goals during the regular season, tallied the all-important first goal of the game. Lorenz, who recorded a key goal in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship game, tallied Denver’s second marker against Boston College.

For the Pioneers to beat Eagles goaltender Jacob Fowler, they needed a lucky bounce. Denver got that bounce on Wright’s goal after the initial shot deflected off Fowler’s mask and trickled into the back of the net.

Defensive Shutdown

For a team felt like it often needed to outscore their opponents in the first half of the season, Denver’s defensive and goaltending improvements in the second half were elevated further in the postseason.

The Pioneers limited Boston University to one goal, which came on a shorthanded breakaway. On Saturday, Denver’s defense managed to shut out Boston College for the first time this season.

The Eagles’ top line of Will Smith, Gabe Perreault, and Leonard combined for 18 shots on goal in Saturday’s game. However, the Pioneers did well limiting the high-danger opportunities. And when Denver needed their goaltending, Matt Davis was omnipresent.

“I think a lot of people maybe came at our defensive structure throughout the year, but we stuck to it,” senior captain McKade Webster said. “It’s just Denver hockey, doing whatever it takes, sacrificing everything for this group. It’s all about team
success and not individual success in this program.”