Denver tops Michigan in OT in Frozen Four behind Carter Savoie's goal

The Pioneers are Championship bound‼️@DU_Hockey defeats Michigan 3-2 in an overtime thriller and advance to the National Championship game.#MFrozenFour pic.twitter.com/HSQ2et9UiM

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 8, 2022

Michigan vs. Denver was so close that it needed overtime. But in the end, the better team won on Thursday: Denver took down Michigan, 3-2. 

Bobby Brink had the puck in the corner of the Michigan zone. He found teammate Carter Savoie open in front of the net. 

Bobby Brink to Carter Savoie, who scores on his own rebound to send Denver to the national championship with a 3-2 overtime win over Michigan. pic.twitter.com/omBxy6Bww3

— Patrick Donnelly (@PatDonn12) April 8, 2022

His first shot was stopped. The second was not. 

Denver got the scoring started in the first period when Brett Stapley roofed one over Michigan goalie Erik Portillo to make it 1-0. 

Michigan’s offense struggled early on, but found itself early in the second period when Jimmy Lambert converted on a chance from right in front of the Denver net to tie the game, 1-1. 

In the third period, both squads traded lamplighters. First it was Cameron Wright tipping one past Portillo to make it 2-1. But then, just a few moments later, Thomas Bordeleau knotted up the score, 2-2. 

With the win, Denver will play the winner of Minnesota vs. Minnesota State on Saturday for the national championship.

With Michigan-Denver headed to OT, the game has been moved to ESPNU. 

Minnesota-Minnesota State will also be played on ESPNU. Puck drop is slated for 8:30 p.m. ET. 

Bordeleau with a side of Pasta and Estapa!#GoBlue #FrozenFour pic.twitter.com/MZWrP7pGaG

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) April 7, 2022

Well, that didn't take long. 

Just a few moments after Denver took the 2-1 lead, Michigan came right back and tied the score, 2-2. 

Off a mad scramble in front of the Denver net, Thomas Bordeleau batted the puck out of the air and past Denver goalie Magnus Chrona to make it 2-2. 

The game is tied, 2-2, with 10:51 to play in the third period. 

Cameron Wright gives @DU_Hockey a 2-1 lead in the 3rd!

🎥 @espn#MFrozenFour pic.twitter.com/L1ptf09HOY

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 7, 2022

Denver's Cameron Wright gave the Pioneers the lead shortly into the third period. 

Defenseman Mike Benning ripped a shot from the point and Wright was in the perfect place, tipping it past Michigan goalie Erik Portillo. 

Denver leads, 2-1, with 14:24 to play in the third period. 

#Senior Love
Lambert from Moyle and Van Whye at 4:03 and we're tied 1-1#GoBlue #FrozenFour pic.twitter.com/oQR11hbHOM

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) April 7, 2022

Michigan wasted no time tying the game early in the second period, as its fourth line went to work. 

After a great drive to the Denver net, Nolan Moyle recovered and dished it out to a wide open Jimmy Lambert in front for the goal. Garrett Van Wyhe also registered an assist. 

The game is now tied, 1-1, with 15:57 to play in the second period. 

1st goal of the Frozen Four goes to @DU_Hockey's BRETT STAPLEY!!!

🎥 @espn#MFrozenFour pic.twitter.com/QbnlrDtwDy

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 7, 2022

Denver leads Michigan, 1-0, after one period. 

The one goal came off the stick of Brett Stapley. He picked up a rebound from teammate Justin Lee’s shot and roofed it over Michigan goalie Erik Portillo with 8:38 to play in the frame. 

Both teams took some time to get used to the game. Michigan didn’t get its first shot to the Denver net until about 4 minutes remained in the period. 

Denver leads in shots as well, 7-4. 

The Frozen Four semifinal between Michigan and Denver is just moments away. Here are the lineups: 

Denver 

Ryan Barrow - Cole Guttman - Bobby Brink 
Carter Savoie - Brett Stapley - Jack Devine 
Carter Mazur - Massimo Rizzo - Cameron Wright 
Carter King - McKade Webster - Owen Ozar 
Brett Edwards 

Sean Behrens - Kyle Mayhew 
Shai Buium - Mike Benning 
Justin Lee - Antti Tusmisto 

Magnus Chrona 

Michigan 

Kent Johnson - Matty Beniers - Brendan Brisson 
Mark Estapa - Thomas Bordeleau - Michael Pastujov 
Dylan Duke - Johnny Beecher - Mackie Samoskevich 
Garrett Van Wyhe - Jimmy Lambert - Nolan Moyle 
Luke Morgan 

Owen Power - Keaton Pehrson 
Jacob Truscott - Luke Hughes 
Ethan Edwards - Nick Blankenburg 

Erik Portillo 

It all comes down to this: the 2022 Frozen Four.

Tonight, four teams battle for two spots in Saturday’s national championship game. The first game is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET between Michigan and Denver. That game can be watched on ESPN2. You can follow the entire game on this page. 

To follow the second semifinal game, click here for live updates from the Minnesota-Minnesota State game.

Here’s some pregame reading before Thursday's national semifinal:

• Like all Frozen Fours, there’s a lot to follow in this one. But this year’s event is even more interesting given how great all four teams are. NCAA.com’s Evan Marinofsky wrote about all the interesting storylines and which ones are the best. There’s one particular goaltending matchup that is extremely interesting.
• All three Hat Trick finalists for the 2022 Hobey Baker award are here at the Frozen Four. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg of all the great players that are here. Marinofsky dove into the 10 must-watch players of the tournament. It wasn’t an easy task.
• The one constant among all Frozen Four teams: it’s not a surprise that they’re here. Still, Michigan, Minnesota, Denver and Minnesota State all had unique paths to get to Boston. Marinofsky details the journey each took to get to this moment and how that prepared them for Thursday and Saturday night.
• The regional finals were over a week ago, so you may need to refresh your memory. Here were the five most memorable storylines from the regional finals.
• The first round of regionals was even longer ago, so you may need to refresh your memory again. Here were the five most memorable storylines of the first round.
• Click here to access the official bracket for the 2022 DI men’s ice hockey tournament.

Michigan and Denver are two wins away from a national championship. Before the puck drops in Boston, here's how they did in their two NCAA tournament games. 

March 23, 2002 — that was the last time Denver and Michigan took the ice against each other. 

"I'd love to play it," Michigan head coach Mel Pearson said about playing Denver more during the regular season. "[David Carle] and I have talked a few times about trying to get a game on the schedule. We'll work towards it. I'd love to play them." 

Denver has an all-time record of 46-36-1 against Michigan. Even though it's been awhile, let's take a look back at those matchups.