Box Score DENVER - No. 1/2 Denver punched its ticket to the WCHA Final Five with a hard-fought 4-2 win over Michigan Tech tonight at Magness Arena. Kyle Ostrow (Calgary, Alberta) and Jesse Martin (Edmonton, Alberta) each had a goal and an assist, Joe Colborne (Calgary, Alberta) scored the game-winner and John Lee (Moorhead, Minn.) scored his first career goal as the Pioneers (27-7-4) swept the Huskies (5-30-1) in the best two-of-three WCHA first round series.

Michigan Tech, playing without leading scorer Brett Olson, Bennett Royer and Jordan Baker tonight, gave the Pioneers quite a challenge in the playoff series.

"We are certainly fortunate to advance to the Final Five after a difficult series against Michigan Tech," DU head coach George Gwozdecky said. "I have all the admiration for the way Tech competed, but we better tonight and we're looking forward to playing in the premier tournament in college hockey next weekend."

Martin out-raced the Tech defense and buried a backhanded goal past Josh Robinson to give DU a 1-0 lead at 6:22 of the first period. The Pioneers killed off a 5-on-3 Tech advantage for 1:19, but Tech tallied the equalizer moments late on a power play goal from Ryan Bunger at 11:48. Tech outshot DU, 16-4, in the opening stanza.

Tempers flared in the second period and DU capitalized. Lee's blast from the point beat Robinson (34 saves) at 18:24 and Colborne staked DU to a 3-1 lead with the eventual game-winner shorthanded at 19:54. DU regained control of the game with 24 shots in the middle stanza.

Tech didn't go away quietly. Peter Rohn cut the DU lead to one goal at 8:24 of the third, but Ostrow's quick wrister iced the win and DU's third straight trip to the Final Five.

Marc Cheverie (Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia) had 28 saves, including 15 in the first period. DU went 4-for-5 on the penalty kill and 0-for-2 on the power play.

Notes: Colborne is tied for the NCAA lead with eight game-winning goals. Martin has a three-game goal streak. Ostrow has 3-3=6 during his three-game point streak. Wisconsin also advanced to the Final Five with a 7-2 win and series sweep over Alaska Anchorage.