March 10, 2012
Denver 3, Wisconsin 1
Magness Arena • Denver, Colo. | |
| |
 |
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | | Denver | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | | Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | Scoring Summary
| | 3rd | 04:04 | DU | Drewhurst (Jackson, Lee) | | 3rd | 06:54 | WIS | Schultz (McCabe) | | 3rd | 12:53 | DU | Salazar (Zucker, Shore) | | 3rd | 19:04 | DU | Shore | | Goaltender Summary
| Min | GA | Sv | | DU | Brittain (W, 6-3-0) | 60:00 | 1 | 27 | | WIS | Rumpel (L, 12-11-2) | 58:58 | 2 | 38 | | Statistical Comparison
| DU | WIS | | Shots on Goal | 42 | 28 | | Power Plays | 0-3 | 0-2 | | Penalties-Minutes | 4-19 | 5-10 | | |
| |
• Final Stats | Final Stats 
DENVER -- A goal by junior Justin Schultz (West Kelowna, BC) with 12:59 left in the third period tied the game at 1-1 against Denver Saturday night, but the Pioneers (22-12-4, 16-8-4 WCHA) scored two late goals and the Badgers (17-17-2, 11-15-2 WCHA) fell 3-1 to force a game three in the opening round of the WCHA playoffs.
After taking Friday night’s game 1-0, the Badgers and Pioneers stand locked in a 1-1 series tie and will play again Sunday night to decide who advances to the WCHA Final Five next weekend.
For the second night in a row, both teams skated to a 0-0 tie through two periods. Denver was first to break through with a goal from Nate Drewhurst 4:04 into the third period.
| Fast Facts | | • Joel Rumpel has saved 66 shots through the first two games of the series, allowing just two goals. | | • Justin Schultz scored his 16th goal of the season, which leads the team. No defenseman has ever led the Badgers in scoring in a season. | | • Wisconsin is now 13-2-0 all-time against Denver in the playoffs. | |
Less than three minutes later, Schultz scored his 16th goal of the season off a pass from freshman Jake McCabe (Eau Claire, Wis.). McCabe, who was in the penalty box after committing a tripping penalty, left the box as the penalty expired, took the puck and found Schultz on the far side for the score.
With 7:07 left in the game though, Luke Salazar found the back of the net and DU once again took the lead.
With under a minute left, and Wisconsin freshman goalie Joel Rumpel out in favor of the sixth attacker, the Pioneers put another shot in the net as they claimed the 3-1 victory.
Rumpel put together five straight scoreless periods in the series before allowing two goals in the final frame Saturday night. Rumpel saved 38 shots overall in the game.
Denver outshot UW 42-28, while both teams went scoreless on the power play.
The Badgers and Pioneers hit the ice one more time Sunday evening to decide the series. Puck drop in 8 p.m. CST.
