Freshmen David Makowski and Jason Zucker forced overtime and also ended it, respectively, as the University of Denver escaped Minnesota State by completing a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff sweep with a 3-2 overtime victory over the hard-luck Mavericks on Saturday night at Magness Arena.
Zucker scored his 21st goal 1:29 into OT to send the No. 2-seeded Pioneers to this week’s WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn. The league’s rookie of the year swung into the Minnesota State zone, split two defenders and put a high, hard wrist shot on goalie Austin Lee. The sophomore, playing in just his 13th game of the season, had the puck carom off his pads and bounce over his head, off his stick and into the net.
“I’ve always believed in the saying — any shot in overtime is a good shot,” Zucker said. “I just tried to get in the middle (and) shoot, and it happened to go up and rainbow in. It was pretty lucky, if you ask me.”
Makowski’s game-tying goal was pure marksmanship. On the power play, he intercepted a MSU clearing attempt, took a couple of strides and put a wrist shot behind Lee from between the circles.
Minnesota State nearly won it at the regulation buzzer. A shot from the point by Joe Schiller was gloved by Sam Brittain, but the DU goalie bobbled it, and Mike Louwerse made an improbable mid-air tap-in just after time expired.
The referees ruled no goal, but went to the replay booth to confirm the call. And given how the game was officiated to that point, the crowd of 4,306 feared the worst. But the call stood.
It was another controversial night for referees Todd Anderson and Brad Shepherd, who were working their fourth consecutive DU game. Both teams complained throughout.
DU, which won 4-2 on Friday after trailing 2-0 to begin the third period, rallied from a 1-0 third-period deficit in Game 2. Sophomore Matt Donovan tied it with a power-play goal at 9:35, only to see the Mavericks retake the lead less than two minutes later.
“Something we’re trying to work on,” Makowski said of being forced to stage third-period rallies. “Hopefully, down the stretch here, we can start getting (third-period leads), but if we don’t, we know we’re a good comeback team, and we can get those goals late.”
Minnesota State struck first early in the second period with a two-man advantage, after DU defenseman John Ryder was called for interference while making an excellent check on a 5-on-4 penalty kill. A minute later, Michael Dorr beat Brittain with a wrist shot from the left circle, but it was waved off because of a crease violation on Rylan Galiardi.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
DU Recap
The Post’s three stars
1. David Makowski.
DU freshman forced OT with an unassisted power-play goal and also had an assist.
2. Jason Zucker.
Game-winning goal for the Pioneers’ star freshman forward.
3. J.P. Burkemper.
Freshman winger gave MSU a 2-1 lead.
What you might have missed
Injured Avalanche forward TJ Galiardi, 22, attended the game in support of his older brother, Rylan, a Minnesota State 24-year-old senior center.
Up next
Friday, opponent and time TBD, at WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn.
