The No. 1 DU Pioneers’ unbeaten streak hit nine (7-0-2) games on Friday night as the Crimson & Gold skated to a 1-1 draw with the MU RedHawks in front of 5,924 fans at Magness Arena. Denver captured an extra point in the NCHC Standings by virtue of winning a sudden death post-overtime shootout.
“The NCHC is once again the class of college hockey this season and every game is a battle in this conference,” Denver head coach Jim Montgomery said following Friday’s draw. “We played well and skated hard tonight but the bounces didn’t go our way, Miami’s goalie played well and we have to settle for a tie – that’s hockey. Tomorrow is an important game for us and hopefully we can do a better job of finishing on our scoring chances and put some more goals on the board.”
Miami struck first on Friday as sophomore RedHawks defenseman Grant Hutton tallied his third marker of the season in the second minute of play. The Pioneers dominated the duration of the opening stanza, ultimately outshouting Miami 15-3 over the course of the 20 minute frame, but could not convert on any of their opportunities as Friday’s contest reached the first intermission with the visitors on top 1-0.
Anaheim Ducks prospect Troy Terry (Denver, Colo.) tied the game up at one apiece early in the middle frame, intercepting an errant RedHawks pass in enemy territory and sliding a low shot past MU goalie Ryan Larkin to register the fourth goal of his sophomore season. Terry’s marker proved to be the final offensive strike of regulation play as the third period and a pair of overtime sessions failed to produce a resolution to the proceedings. In the post-OT shootout, Florida Panthers prospect Henrik Borgström scored in the opening round for DU while Tanner Jaillet (Red Deer, Alta.) stopped the lone shooter he faced to give the hosts a valuable bonus point in the conference standings.
Denver (7-2-2, 3-0-2-1 NCHC) and Miami (6-3-3, 0-4-1-0 NCHC) will meet again at Magness Arena on Saturday night (7:00pm).
Featured Image Credit: DenverPioneers.com