Denver slips past Michigan in double-OT Frozen Four thriller

Field Level Media|published: Fri 10th April, 01:07 2026

Apr 9, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Denver Pioneers defenseman Kent Anderson (21) and Michigan Wolverines forward Garrett Schifsky (17) battle for the puck in the third period in the semifinals of the NCAA men's ice hockey Frozen Four at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Kent Anderson scored at 12:35 of the second overtime and Denver defeated No. 1 Michigan 4-3 in a Frozen Four semifinal at Las Vegas on Thursday night.

Anderson took a pass from Kristian Epperson in the high slot and beat Jack Ivankovic with a wrist shot that went off the post and in.

Denver will face Wisconsin, a 2-1 winner against No. 2 North Dakota in the other semifinal, on Saturday in the national championship game.

Clarke Caswell tied the score 3-3 with 2:46 remaining in regulation when he redirected Garrett Brown's pass past Ivankovic from in front.

Kyle Chyzowski and Cale Ashcroft also scored for Denver (28-11-3). Epperson had two assists, and Johnny Hicks made a career-high 49 saves.

Josh Eernisse, T.J. Hughes and Jayden Perron scored for the Wolverines (31-8-1). Ivankovic made 22 saves.

The Pioneers went 0-for-5 on the power play, Michigan was 1-for-1.

Chyzowski gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead at 9:29 of the first period. He deflected a Michigan clearing pass, and teammate Brendan McMorrow controlled the puck. McMorrow quickly passed down to Kieran Cebrian, who fed across the Chyzowksi for the one-timer from the right circle.

Michigan took the lead with two goals in 59 seconds.

Eernisse tied it 1-1 at 16:18 when he got to the puck during a scrum after a faceoff and fired a wrist shot past Hicks from the dot.

Hughes, a Hobey Baker finalist, gave the Wolverines a 2-1 lead at 17:17. Adam Valentini's shot caromed off the glass behind the net and right to Hughes, who knocked it in from the right post for his 22nd goal of the season.

Ashcroft tied it 2-2 when he scored on a high wrist shot from the center point through a screen in front at 2:30 of the second period just after a Denver power play ended.

Hicks was shaken up at 3:53 of the third period when Michigan's Malcolm Spence collided with the goalie, but he stayed in the game.

Perron gave Michigan a 3-2 lead at 11:02 of the third. On a power, he took a pass at the right point from Will Horcoff, skated toward the right circle and sent a top-corner wrist shot through a screen.

--Field Level Media

Latest