The Denver Pioneers have two goalies who have shared playing time this season, and with weekend games on back-to-back nights, that’s more common than revolutionary.
So how will Pioneers coach Jim Montgomery pick which goalie — freshman Tanner Jaillet or sophomore Evan Cowley — gets the nod in the postseason?
DU will play two games in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Frozen Faceoff, beginning with Friday night’s semifinal against Miami (Ohio) at the Target Center in Minneapolis, with the second game being a consolation or a championship matchup.
After the Frozen Faceoff, in the 16-team NCAA Tournament, beginning with four-team regionals, it’s lose-and-done for everyone.
Cowley, 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, from Evergreen, has slightly better statistics than Jaillet (5-11, 177), but that’s not the only reason he is scheduled to get the start against Miami.
It’s a matter of style.
“I think we have two really good goaltenders that are playing great right now,” Montgomery said before the Pioneers left for Minneapolis on Wednesday. “They’re different style goalies, and they match up better against different style offensive teams.”
Montgomery noted: “Miami’s very dangerous, and they’re selective in their shots. They like to go up high, and it’s just better to have a big goaltender against players that like to go up high.”
He said that if DU had played against St. Cloud State in a semifinal, Jaillet might have gotten the nod.
“They like to shoot, and you want a goalie that’s square to that first puck, and that’s the strength of Tanner Jaillet,” Montgomery said.
Jaillet has played 23 games for the Pioneers and has a 13-6 record, 2.42 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and one shutout. Cowley has played in 19 games and has a 9-6-2 record, 2.04 goals-against, .928 save percentage and three shutouts.
The Pioneers are expected to be in the 16-team NCAA field announced Sunday. Four-team regionals are in Providence, R.I.; Fargo, N.D.; South Bend, Ind.; and Manchester, N.H.
“We’re trying to get ready for the NCAA Tournament, and winning the championship here against three teams that are all in the top 10 of the PairWise prepares us for it,” Montgomery said.
“You can’t replicate big moments, being up by a goal or down by a goal and trying to execute under pressure, and that’s what this prepares us for.”
Footnotes: Senior defenseman Joey LaLeggia on Thursday was named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the top player in NCAA hockey. He also was named the NCHC’s player of the year, defenseman of the year and offensive player of the year. Freshman forward Danton Heinen was named the rookie of the year, and Trevor Moore was named the forward of the year.
Terry Frei: tfrei@denverpost.com or
Nchc preview
No. 4 seed Denver (22-12-2) vs. No. 2 Miami (Ohio) (23-13-1)
• What: National Collegiate Hockey Conference Frozen Faceoff semifinals
• When: Friday, 6:38 p.m.
• Where: Target Center, Minneapolis
• TV/radio: CBSSN/105.5 FM
• Notes: The winner will play North Dakota or St. Cloud State in the championship game Saturday. The loser will play in the consolation game. … North Dakota, Miami and DU are considered locks to be in the 16-team NCAA Tournament when the field is announced Sunday. … DU and the RedHawks have split four meetings this season. They met in the inaugural NCHC Tournament championship game last year. DU won 4-3. Terry Frei, The Denver Post
