Michigan hockey beats Denver 4-3 on Saturday to complete weekend sweep
Asher Barnett scored the winner after Denver rallied to tie the game. The Wolverines left the series unbeaten at 6-0.
Michigan hockey completed a weekend sweep of No. 1 Denver on Saturday, October 17, winning 4-3 in Denver after taking Friday’s opener 4-1. The No. 2 Wolverines left the series unbeaten at 6-0, while the defending national champion Pioneers fell to 2-2. Saturday’s result completed the rematch of the teams’ Frozen Four semifinal.
How Michigan won Saturday’s game
Denver struck first on a power-play goal by Kristian Epperson. Michigan answered with goals from Garrett Schifsky and Adam Valentini to lead 2-1 after the opening period, according to The Hockey News. Jayden Perron extended Michigan’s lead early in the second, but Denver rallied to tie the game 3-3 in the third period.
Michigan defenseman Asher Barnett scored the winner with 4:53 remaining. The Hockey News reported that his shot from the blue line bounced off the end glass, the top of the net and a Denver player before crossing the goal line. His goal came after Denver had erased a two-goal deficit.
Denver outshot Michigan 36-25 for the game and 14-4 in the final period, The Hockey News reported. Michigan goaltender Jack Ivankovic made 33 saves. Perron’s goal brought him to nine goals and 15 points through Michigan’s first six games, according to both The Hockey News and Sam Bernardi’s report for Maize n Brew, hosted by Yahoo Sports.
The Frozen Four rematch and Friday’s opener
Denver eliminated Michigan in double overtime in April’s Frozen Four semifinal. Friday’s 4-1 result ended Denver’s 19-game winning streak dating back to January, according to The Hockey News. Perron opened the scoring in that game, Malcolm Spence scored twice, Cole McKinney added a goal and Ivankovic stopped 27 of 28 shots.
NewsJaws’ earlier report covered Michigan’s 4-1 win over Denver on Friday. In Saturday’s return game, the Pioneers recovered from a two-goal deficit and had the stronger final period by shots, but Barnett’s late goal gave Michigan the second win. The weekend was the teams’ first regular-season series since their Frozen Four meeting.
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Sources and context
- Michigan Hockey sweeps Denver in Frozen Four rematchMaize n Brew (SB Nation), hosted by Yahoo Sports; article by Sam Bernardi
- Michigan sweeps Denver in Frozen Four RematchThe Hockey News; article by Owen Cameron
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.