{"id":146333,"date":"2024-03-23T04:56:55","date_gmt":"2024-03-23T09:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/?p=146333"},"modified":"2024-03-23T04:59:17","modified_gmt":"2024-03-23T09:59:17","slug":"no-3-denver-rallies-four-times-ends-no-17-st-cloud-states-season-in-ot-to-advance-to-frozen-faceoff-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/2024\/03\/23\/no-3-denver-rallies-four-times-ends-no-17-st-cloud-states-season-in-ot-to-advance-to-frozen-faceoff-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"No. 3 Denver rallies four times, ends No. 17 St. Cloud State\u2019s season in OT to advance to NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Denver players swarm Zeev Buium (28) after the freshman’s overtime winner lifted the Pioneers over St. Cloud State Friday night (photo: Jim Rosvold).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ST. PAUL, Minn. \u2013<\/strong> It can be a very difficult task to end an opponent\u2019s season \u2013 especially when you have to rally as many times as Denver did on Friday.<\/p>\n

But the Pioneers\u2019 high-powered offense blitzed St. Cloud State with 13 goals in a two-game road sweep three weeks ago, and they had enough offense in their conference tournament semifinal to rally and end their rival\u2019s season earlier than it has ended in seven years.<\/p>\n

Zeev Buium capped a three-point night with the game-winning goal, helping No. 3 Denver overcome No. 17 St. Cloud State 5-4 in overtime from the Xcel Energy Center to send the Pioneers to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship game and ending the Huskies\u2019 season in the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cProud of our team\u2019s effort tonight,\u201d said Denver coach David Carle. \u201cWe have the utmost respect for St. Cloud, Brett Larson, their staff, the season they had and the effort they put in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Denver, who went 4-0-1 against St. Cloud State this season, fell behind by a goal four times Friday yet had an answer each time, and they had the final laugh in sealing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament by advancing to Saturday\u2019s final.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur guys have executed offensively all year very well,\u201d said Carle. \u201cI think it was a great challenge for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Four different players had go-ahead goals for the Huskies, but they couldn\u2019t manage one more in regulation or in the extra session, and as a result they will miss the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017, two seasons before current head coach Brett Larson took charge.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does sting right now for sure \u2013 for the older guys especially,\u201d Larson said. \u201cWe were always right in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

WINNER WINNER!<\/p>\n

Zeev Buium tallies his 1st career game-winning goal and it's a big one for tonight's @Safeway<\/a> Goal of the Game!#GoPios<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9M5o5x18IZ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 23, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n