Senior Luke Salazar scored 1:40 into overtime to propel No. 3 seed Denver past No. 10 seed Wisconsin in game three of the first round of the WCHA playoffs Sunday night at Magness Arena. Photo courtesy DU Athletics
Senior Luke Salazar scored 1:40 into overtime to propel No. 3 seed Denver past No. 10 seed Wisconsin in game three of the first round of the WCHA playoffs Sunday night at Magness Arena. With the win, the Pioneers advance to the WCHA Final Five Tournament in St. Paul, Minn., for the fifth consecutive year. Ty Loney and Nick Shore added goals for the Pioneers (23-12-4) and junior co-captain Drew Shore assisted on all three goals in the win. Sam Brittain earned his second win of the series with 24 saves.
Mark Zengerle and Tyler Barnes scored for Wisconsin (17-18-2) and Joel Rumpel made 30 saves in the loss.
“It’s a terrific feeling any time you can win a playoff game or a playoff series, and this series was extended right to the limit,” says head coach George Gwozdecky. “Sam (Brittain) did not have a very auspicious start tonight. Both goals were goals that he knows he stops 99 out of 100. But we had to continue to fight back. Our power play finally scored a goal against these guys, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.”
Denver plays Michigan Tech in the first game of the WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn. on Thursday, March 15. Puck drop is set for 1:07 p.m.
Read full story on the Pioneers athletics site.