Box Score DENVER - The University of Denver hockey team had to overcome a two-goal deficit to tie Wisconsin, 2-2, in Madison, Wis., Saturday.
We have a very exciting team, said Denver head coach George Gwozdecky. There is no quit in this team. Dubielewicz had a great game. We try to break it down period to period. After being down 2-0 after the first period, we had to win the second and then the third. I am happy with tonight's effort.
Following a victory over the Badgers Friday night, the Pioneers knew they would be in for a battle in the series finale. Wisconsin seemed eager to get this game started as the Badgers opened the game with a commanding effort at both ends of the ice. Denver did not help itself any, committing four penalties in the first period, allowing UW four power play situations. The Badgers defense held its ground as well, not allowing the Pioneers to register a shot until the 12-minute mark of the game. Denver began its penalty kill with very good results early, killing 51-seconds of a 5-on-3. Wisconsin finally beat the Pioneers defense at the 14:00 mark of the opening stanza as Matt Hussey beat sophomore goaltender Wade Dubielewicz (Invermere, British Columbia) on the Badgers' third power play of the night. Just 20 seconds later, Denver found itself a man down again and the Badgers made good on their fourth extra attacker situation of the night. Dubielewicz again made the initial save but did not have any help clearing the puck as UW's Matt Murray gained control and gave the Badgers a 2-0 lead. Denver was outshot by UW 14-4 in the opening 20 minutes of play as the Badgers took a two-goal advantage to the locker room at the first intermission.
The Pioneers pulled to within one goal of the Badgers at the 3:07 mark of the second period. On a power play, freshman Connor James (Calgary, Alberta) found sophomore Matt Weber (Binghamton, N.Y.) to the left of UW goaltender Graham Melanson. Weber had to control the bouncing puck but, once settled, fired a shot toward Melanson. Melanson thought he had controlled the shot, but the puck just trickled through his legs and over the goal line. Also picking up an assist was freshman Lukas Dora (Lednice, Czech, Republic). That was all the scoring in the second stanza, but the Pioneers did a much better job at both ends of the ice and outshot the Badgers 10-6 in the middle period.
Despite being outshot 17-11 in the third period, the Pioneers managed to get the equalizing goal on a tremendous effort late in regulation. Senior defenseman Jesse Cook (Engelwood, Colo.) stepped up into the play to hold the puck in the offensive zone. He centered the puck to senior Kelly Popadynetz (Calgary, Alberta) who missed the net with his shot. Popadynetz chased down the puck behind the net and found a streaking Greg Barber (Kelowna, British Columbia) who beat Melanson high to his glove side. That goal tied the game, 2-2, and forced overtime.
Denver had a great opportunity in the overtime period, as senior Bjorn Engstrom (Akarp, Sweden) found James, who redirected the puck on net. Melanson made a great save on the Pioneer freshman, grabbing it out of the air with his catcher. Dubielewicz finished a strong game, making 37 saves to pace Denver to the tie.
The Pioneers will return home to host in-state rival Colorado College next Friday night. The puck will drop at Magness Arena at 7:35 p.m. The Pioneers and Tigers will take Saturday off and finish the series on Saturday, February 10, at World Arena.
