04/11/26 07:19:00
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04/11 19:17 CDT Denver beats Wisconsin 2-1 for its 11th national title, 3rd in
5 years
Denver beats Wisconsin 2-1 for its 11th national title, 3rd in 5 years
By MARK ANDERSON
AP Sports Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP) --- Kyle Chyzowski tipped in a shot from the point with 5:52
left to back up another sensational performance from goalie Johnny Hicks and
rally Denver to a 2-1 victory over Wisconsin on Saturday for the Pioneers'
third national championship in five years.
The victory also extended the Pioneers' record to 11 national titles overall
and denied the Badgers their seventh overall and first since 2006.
This also was a rare loss for a Big Ten Conference team in a championship game
this academic year. That conference already is home to the current champions in
football ( Indiana ), men's basketball ( Michigan ) and women's basketball (
UCLA ).
But the National Collegiate Hockey Conference remains the sport's premier
league by claiming eight of the past 10 national champions.
Hicks continued his stellar play by making 29 saves, just two days after a
personal-high 49 against Michigan. He did not lose in regulation since taking
over the starter, going 16-0-1. Hicks entered this game by leading the nation
with a 1.20 goals-against average and .957 save percentage.
Rieger Lorenz scored the other goal for Denver.
Wisconsin's goal came from Vasily Zelenov, and Daniel Hauser stopped 13 shots.
Zelenov's blast from the left circle off the rush with 6:24 left in the first
period put Wisconsin up 1-0, a lead that held up until 7:31 of the third.
That's when Kristian Epperson passed to defenseman Garrett Brown at the left
point. His shot resulted in a rebound opportunity for Lorenz, who scored easily
around Hauser into the open net.
Then it was a matter of finishing the job, which is what happened when Boston
Buckberger delivered a one-timer from the right point that likely would have
gone into the net even if Chyzowski hadn't gotten a stick on the puck.
Denver didn't have a shot on goal for the first 8 1/2 minutes and ended the
first period with just two for the fifth time in a title game. The Pioneers
also had two shots on goal in a period in 1963 against North Dakota. Minnesota
was the most recent team to have such few shots, occurring three years ago
against Quinnipiac.
The Pioneers managed just three more shots on goal in the second period against
Wisconsin's forecheck, the Badgers outshooting them 21-5 through two periods.
It had a similar feel to Denver's 4-3 double-overtime victory over Michigan in
Thursday night's semifinals. The Wolverines outshot the Denver 52-26, but the
Pioneers found a way to force OT and win in extra time.
___
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