DU 4 - Minnesota-Duluth 3 OT FINAL

(above) VIDEO: DU's 4th line comes to the rescue as Zac Larraza scores the game winner in double overtime

Freshman Zac Larraza scored in double overtime as the University of Denver continued its improbable overtime winning streak on Thursday afternoon in St. Paul.  DU advanced to the WCHA Final 5 Championship game against North Dakota on Saturday night.

DU appeared to have the game well in hand with a 3-0 lead midway through the second period when Minnesota-Duluth staged their comeback.

Two second period goals and goal late by the Bulldogs in the third period set up a dramatic overtime.

The game winning goal by Larazza was his first career goal at DU. Sam Brittain made 67 saves for the Pioneers.

DU is now in a three-way tie for 8th place in the Pairwise Rankings.  With the victory DU punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament next week.

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BABY!! What an effort through the overtimes!

Anonymous said...

WE WANT THE SIOUX! WE WANT THE SIOUX!

Anonymous said...

Sam Brittain is a monster!!

Anonymous said...

Get the boys hydrated in into bed.

dggoddard said...

They mentioned during the broadcast that Adam Murray may start tomorrow in goal for DU.

Seems like a classy move and would certainly highlight what DU's three goaltenders have done this season.

Anonymous said...

I'm a 1977 grad and long time supported of the program. My annual contribution is already going up and I have my tickets to the Frozen Four already. I sure hope the team joins me there!

ayoungerdu said...

I think I had several heart attacks during that game. We'll I guess we wait and see who wins tonight.

Aluuum said...

This win is counter productive. Screw the trophy. The only thing that matters is gettint to Tampa.
Our boys are on fumes right now.

dggoddard said...

DU looked stronger in overtime than UMD in my opinion. Perhaps training at altitude all the time is paying dividends.

UMD has never been known as one of the better conditioned teams in the league.

dggoddard said...

If all the higher seeds win for the rest of the weekend and Minnesota beats DU tomorrow DU will be the #9 seed out of 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

If all the higher seeds win and DU beats Minnesota, DU will be #5 out of 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

Anonymous said...

I just can not agree with Aluuum.

Let's take it home tomorrow night, boys!

This team has so much heart. I love them! So amazing.

Anonymous said...

I am with Aluum.

This tourney has done enough to us already.

We are in the NCAAs now.

I want our boys to get some fricken' rest and recuperation.

old pio said...

Finding a way to win this one, after blowing a 3 goal lead, in the second OT, is so improbable, so remarkable, so satisfying. Man, those guys did themselves and DU proud.

Anonymous said...

Man...all these guys sayin they wish we coulda got rest...screw that...lets win everything.

Anonymous said...

Yeaaaa baby!!! Almost passed out from yelling so much and being so excited

Anonymous said...

Pretty crazy game for #16 when you consider that Larraza wouldn't have even played if Phillips had been able to; and if the Lark wouldn't have gotten the 5 min major, Zack would'nt of hardly had any shifts whatsoever.

achsdu17 said...

1) I can't believe we won that one... blew a 3 goal lead, DU looked tired, Britain standing on his head and we pulled it off. I tell ya beating the defending National Champs could go a long way mentally for this team in the National Tournament.

2) Though we won... how much energy does this team have left? I hope they got a bite to eat and went straight to bed. They need what ever they have left tomorrow.

3) No I don't want Adam Murray in net tomorrow.

du78 said...

This team is battle tested now. They have seen everything. Lets go for the win tomorrow and let everyone know we are ready to do whatever it takes to get to the promised land. Every opponent will know this team will take them to the limit and beyond. I think the mantra of this team is "We Never Quit".

old pio said...

I'm ambivalent about starting Murray tomorrow. We're in the tournament, that's what matters most to me. And I'm still feeling guilty about what many of us said about the kid, before we learned he was playing hurt.

That said, we've got a shot at a title, and maybe that should be the highest priority.

I'm sounding like Tevye, "on the other hand," "On the other hand." I'm happy to leave this one up to Gwoz. Whatever he decides is fine by me.

du78 said...

Gwoz will play the guy who he thinks gives him the best chance to win. I don't see him running Sam out there as he just played almost 5 periods. In Gwoz We Trust!

Anonymous said...

It's not so much Gwoz as it is his "newbie" Goaltending coach. Now is when Coach Lassonde earns his money. And right about now, I'd say bringing him on to fill Lalonde's big shoes, worked out pretty damn good

Anonymous said...

I guarantee we are the one team no one wants to play in the NCAAs.

Anonymous said...

What time is the game tomorrow?

Anonymous said...

but if we are going to lose, tomorrow is the one to lose....

old pio said...

On the other hand, winning tomorrow will certainly stick it to those homers on TV who were openly rooting for OT in today's game. Well, you got your G.D. OT, how does it taste?

GO_PIOS said...

I couldn't stand those homer announcers. Their attepted neutrality was weak at best.

dggoddard said...

Looks like it will be DU vs Minnesota tomorrow night at 6 PM MT. Huge home crowd edge for the Gophers.

Unknown said...

One of the benefits of living in the #2 media market - really good play-by-play announcers. Minnie-ha-ha had a really good announcer, Frank something, who used to call the tournament. What happened to him?

Tim in Los Angeles

ScottA said...

A little quick on the call DG...

ScottA said...

Looks like it will be DU vs NoDak tomorrow night at 6 PM MT. Huge home crowd edge for the Sue.

(sorry DG, I just had to...)

Anonymous said...

Not like it would be if DU played Gophers?

old pio said...

Man, the Sioux were impressive in the 3rd. Wow. Let's hope they leave a little of that in their hotel, otherwise it could be a long evening for the Pioneers. But we're in the tournament, no matter what. And this team has (finally) convinced me it can do about anything.

ScottA said...

Sue have the best travelling fans in college hockey, and StP is just down the road. I can hear the tractors firing up already.

C Now said...

You always have to be scared with a never say die team. Big fan of this Pio Iteration.

CO14ers said...

In being a former NCAA D-I athlete myself, I really don't worry about the conditioning of these guys or whether or not they have anything left in the tank. After rehydrating and sucking down some serious protein and carbs, they will be good to go. Their bodies thrive on this. They will have had over 24 hours to recover and will be fine.

The one aspect of this team now that stands out to me most is the relentless pursuit of the win. The have overcome long odds of late in games to win. They are experienced, the frosh are now sophs in reality and the team works well together. NCAAAs are all about winning like the last 3 games. We are very well prepared for the upcoming challenges.

Anonymous said...

Nice Set up by Ryder and BEAUTIFUL goal by Larazza!!!!

Anonymous said...

Most of the UND fans already live in the Twin Cities, and Grand Forks is only a few hours away, so it will be 15,000 Sioux fans vs 100 real Pio fans and perhaps 3,000 remaining Sioux-haters from other schools on Saturday.

The big DU goal tomorrow is about not getting anyone else hurt. The result of the game means little.

Anonymous said...

Thought it was pretty decent play/effort by Mermis through the neutral zone to help create a turnover, beat a guy to attack the zone, spin off the D who stepped up to stick to stick make a play to Tabrum for the post shot that then led to the Ryder shot and great poise & game winning goal by Larazza. Heck, it really even started with D-zone face-off with a blocked shot and getting out of the zone it just emphasizes importance of full ice play & "gaining the next zone", especially for a 4th line.

anonevermore said...

Incredible!!! Had to watch on dvr this morning, and glad they won it in the second OT, as the recording was just about at its end. Was thinking I would have been proud even if we lost that game, but getting another thrilling OT win has made this one of the most entertaining stretches of du games that I can remember. Hoping for the win and the Broadmoor, but we already accomplished what we needed to do in amazing fashion. So a win is just gravy. Incredible hands by zucker on his breakaway goal. The kid is sick. Congrats to Sammy on breaking the save record, too.