The No. 1 DU Pioneers secured their fourth consecutive berth in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff on Saturday, downing the CC Tigers by a score of 4-0 at Magness Arena to sweep the teams’ best-of-three opening round playoff series. Denver now advances to the conference’s semifinals where they will face either Omaha or North Dakota on Friday, March 17 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. Times for all semifinal matchups will be announced by the conference on Monday. (Click HERE to view the 2017 NCHC Postseason Bracket.)

Saturday’s victory was also the Pioneers’ 14th straight against the Tigers – matching the second-longest streak in program history – and their 13th consecutive win overall, which equals the fourth-longest single-season streak in program history. Senior netminer Evan Cowley (Evergreen, Colo.) made 17 saves on the night in registering his second consecutive shutout while sophomore forwards Logan O’Connor (Calgary, Alta.) and Troy Terry (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored two goals apiece in DU’s sweep-clinching victory.

Denver head coach Jim Montgomery was pleased with his team’s performance on Saturday.

“Colorado College came out with a lot of energy tonight and were forechecking extremely hard in the first few minutes,” the fourth-year bench boss said post-win. “We weathered the storm early and slowly but surely started to take the game over by executing well and playing solid, Denver-style hockey. It’s great to end our home schedule with a good team win like this and we’re looking forward to the challenge of competing for another Frozen Faceoff Title next weekend in Minneapolis.”

After a scoreless opening period, O’Connor scored twice in the middle frame to put Denver up 2-0, first redirecting a Tyson McLellan (San Jose, Calif.) shot to the back of Colorado College’s net and then burying a nifty backhander at the end of an impressive rush into Tigers territory. A pair of special teams goals by Terry highlighted the third period, as the Anaheim Ducks prospect scored once on the power play and once shorthanded in sealing the win for the hosts.

Denver (28-6-4 overall) finishes its 2016-17 home schedule with a record of 16-3-2. I