by Avash Kalra/Senior Writer (@AvashKalra)
‘Defense wins championships’ is the old adage, although the NCAA Frozen Four this week in St. Paul, Minn., welcomes the top four scoring offenses in the nation this season — led by Denver’s 4.7 goals per game.
But Denver seemed to flip the script at the Regionals, playing in — and winning — its only ‘2-1’ games of the season, wins over UMass (a double OT thriller in the first round) and Cornell (avenging last year’s tourney loss), thereby sending the Pioneers back to the Frozen Four, in search of what would be a record-setting 10th national title in program history if they hoist the trophy on Saturday night.
In some ways, the story might seem familiar.
Just two years ago, the Pioneers won a pair of one-goal games at the Regionals, including a 2-1 triumph over Minnesota-Duluth in the Regional Final. David Carle then won his first national championship as a head coach, after his team allowed just three goals at the Frozen Four. That DU team had a 29-9-1 record heading into the final two games of the season. This year, peaking again at the most opportune time, the Pioneers enter college hockey’s final weekend at 30-9-3.
The top offense in the nation. 30 wins for a third consecutive season. NCHC tournament champions. The highlights on paper almost suggest it’s been a smooth ride for Denver.
It’s been anything but.
The story for this Pioneers team has been the evolution of its defense, including four freshmen incorporated on the back end. Like many other title contenders, they’ve battled through significant injuries, most notably to junior forward Massimo Rizzo. And they’ve been forced to adapt — not just to Rizzo’s absence but to a changing style of game as the season has gone on. After all, November — when the Pioneers scored five or more goals in eight games that month — is a distant memory. But so are the back-to-back Friday night losses in December, when Denver — uncharacteristically during Carle’s tenure — gave up seven goals twice.
The ‘2-1’ games are much more likely now, and down the stretch, with goals harder to come by, Denver evolved. They had to.
“We found different things to get excited about than just scoring goals,” Carle said. “Whether it’s blocks, or block-outs, or faceoffs, or good line changes, or good chip-ins…
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