DENVER, Colo. ? A goal by freshman Luke Salazar with 48 seconds remaining in the game, lifted the No. 5 Denver Pioneers over the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, 4-3 for the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff sweep in the best-of-three series at Magness Arena on Saturday night.
The Seawolves (14-17-5, 9-14-5 WCHA) season comes to an end, as the Pioneers (22-10-5, 16-8-4 WCHA) head to the WCHA Final Five on March 19-21.
For the second night, UAA struck first with a goal by junior Kevin Clark and didn't lose the lead until three quarters of the way into the second period. DU's lead was short lived as the Seawolves scored again, tying the game at 3-3. The third remained tied until the last seconds when Salazar chipped in the game-winner.
Clark extended his goal streak to four games with his 13th tally of the season at 6:54 of the first period of play. On a pass from junior Nils Backstrom, Clark deked past a sliding defenseman and sent the puck to the back of the net on blocker side.
The Pioneers' junior Rhett Rakshani responded with a goal at 11:54 of the frame to even the score at 1-1. Sophomore Anthony Maiani was credited with the assist. UAA retook the lead when sophomore Kane Lafranchise found fellow classmate Tommy Grant for a goal at 14:37 of the frame ?marking Grant's 15th goal of the season and a UAA season-high.
Once again the Pioneer's came back to tie the game with an unassisted tally by sophomore Jesse Martin, ending the first, 2-2.
The Seawolves and the Pioneers combined for nine penalties in the second half of the second period with both teams scoring on one power play apiece. Senior Patrick Mullen picked up his fourth goal of the season at 14:36 with Clark in the box for unsportsmanslike conduct. Mullen sent a wrist shot from the circle on the right of sophomore Bryce Christianson, to the mesh.
Senior Mat Robinson, fresh out of the penalty box after being whistled for interference with the goaltender, posted his third goal of the season. The Pioneer's Dustin Jackson was tagged for unsportsmanslike conduct when Robinson scored with 3:27 remaining in the period, knotting the game at 3-3. Junior Paul Crowder and sophomore Sean Wiles received the assists.
The Seawolves were unable to capitalize on two 5-on-3 power play opportunities, but managed to pepper DU's netminder Marc Cheverie with 18 shots in the second period. The Pioneers' were held to five shots on Christianson in the frame.
Following the second intermission, both teams were scoreless for 19 minutes and 12 seconds, when sophomore Kyle Ostrow circled behind the UAA net and sent a cross pass to Salazar for the backdoor goal, ending the Seawolves chances of a third playoff game.
Despite the loss, Alaska Anchorage out shot Denver, 34-25. Christianson was credited with the loss after stopping 21 shots, giving him an 8-8-4 record this season. Cheverie recorded the win with 31 saves, improving his record to 22-10-5.
UAA was whistled for seven penalties for 14 minutes, while DU posted nine for 19 minutes in the box. The Seawolves were able to capitalize on 1-of-4 man-advantages and the Pioneers also scored on one of their two power plays.
Joining the Pioneers in the WCHA Final Five will be three other first round home teams; Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Minnesota-Duluth earned a berth to the tournament by upsetting host Colorado College with a two-game road sweep.
