St. Cloud State
20-6-5, 14-4-3NCHC
University of Denver
17-7-7, 11-5-5NCHC
#1 SCSU men's hockey skates to 1-1 draw with #3/4 Denver on Feb. 23
2/23/2018 10:33:00 PM | Men's Hockey
DU gains extra league point with goal in 3x3 OT
The #1 St. Cloud State University men's hockey team (20-6-5, 14-4-3 NCHC) and the #3/4 University of Denver Pioneers (17-7-7, 11-5-5 NCHC) skated to a 1-1 draw before a crowd of 4,190 on Friday, Feb. 23 at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.
The Pioneers went on to gain the extra league point with a goal by Logan O'Connor at 4:26 of the 3x3 OT session. Adam Plant and Michael Davies both had assists on the play.
In a classic NCHC defensive battle, SCSU and DU battled to a 0-0 draw in the first period as the Pios outshot the Huskies 8-7. The only Huskies goal of the evening came in the second period when Blake Lizotte connected on this sixth goal of the season at the 14:03 mark of the period. Mikey Eyssimont and Patrick Newell assisted on the goal. This was the 19th assist of the year for both players.
Denver then forced the OT with a goal by Adam Plant at 16:33 of the third period. Troy Terry and Henrik Borgstrom each had assists on the play made the official final tally 1-1.
After 5:00 of scoreless 5x5 overtime, the two squads played for the NCHC bonus point with a 3x3 overtime period. Denver scored a goal with 34 seconds left in the second overtime period to gain the extra point in the NCHC standings.
Goal by #27 Blake Lizotte pic.twitter.com/4JGRtLVQUb
— SCSU Men's Hockey (@SCSUHUSKIES_MH) February 24, 2018
David Hrenak had many key saves tonight to keep the Huskies in the game and finished with 25 saves on 26 Pioneer shots.
With the single point, the Huskies remain in first place in the always rugged NCHC with 46 points. Denver stays in second place with 42 points. The Huskies can still clinch their second Penrose Cup tomorrow evening with a win.
Game two of the series is tomorrow night at 7:07 pm. It will be Senior Night as the Huskies will be honoring Judd Peterson, Mika Ilvonen and Blake Winiecki. It is also $1 hot dog night! Tickets are available at 877-SCSUTIX and www.scsutickets.com
