Michael Davies tallied two goals and an assist and Shane Connelly stopped 30 shots to lead No. 17 Wisconsin to a 6–2 win over No. 4/5 Denver in the NCAA Midwest Regional tonight before 9,968 fans at Kohl Center. The loss ends Denver’s (26–14–1) season and sends the Badgers (17–17–7) into the regional final tomorrow against North Dakota.
Dustin Jackson and Tom May scored for DU, and Peter Mannino made 20 saves in his final game as a Pioneer.
Wisconsin jumped to a 2–0 lead on goals from Davies and Jamie McBain before Jackson put the Pioneers on the scoreboard at 16:40 of the second stanza. Wisconsin outscored Denver 4-1 in the final stanza and rode the rowdy home crowd to its first NCAA tournament win since claiming the national title in 2006.
Denver outshot the Badgers 12–7 in the opening stanza, but hit four pipes through two periods and was stymied all night by the stellar goaltending of Connelly.
“We had a great ride,” DU head coach George Gwozdecky said. “I am extremely proud to coach this team. We gave ourselves a chance to win, and that’s all you can ask for in the NCAA tournament. Wisconsin was given a new life in the NCAA tournament and played a great game tonight.”
After Jackson’s goal made it 2–1, Cody Goloubef put Wisconsin up 3–1 when his blast bounced off the back of Mannino and into the net at 9:19 of the final stanza. John Mitchell made it 4–1 with a breakaway tally at 10:19. May’s wrist shot from the high slot made it 4–2, but Davies’ second goal of the night iced the win at 14:38. Davis Drewiske added the final goal with empty-netter at 17:14.
DU outshot Wisconsin 32–26 and went 1-for-6 on the power play. Wisconsin went 1-for-5 with the man-advantage.