The weekend that everyone had been waiting for is finally here. The anticipation of the number 1 team in the nation, the Denver Pioneers coming to town to take on the number 3 team in the nation, the Wisconsin Badgers was almost too much to handle this week.The Friday game did nothing to disappoint. In a hard fought WCHA conference battle, the Badgers and Pioneers battled to a 3-3 tie in front of over 12,000 fans at the Kohl Center.
The Badgers controlled much of the early action but it was the Pioneers who were able strike first. At the 16:38 mark Boston Bruins first round draft pick Joe Colbourne went bar down on a beautiful shot on the power play. Matt Donovan and Drew Shore collected assists on the play.
After no scoring in the second period, there was a fury of activity in the third. Denver took a 2-0 lead early in the period with a goal by Kyle Ostrow only 1:56 into the period. With the outstanding play of Denver goalie Marc Cheverie it wasn't looking good for the Badgers.
Badger captain Blake Geoffrion got the Badger scoring started when he re-directed a Michael Davies shot on the power play two and a half minutes after the Ostrow goal. Less than three minutes later the Badgers struck again to tie the game. Michael Davies found himself all alone on the side of the net with a wide open look and buried the puck. It was Davies 22nd point in his last 11 games and his 99th career point as a Badger.
With all the momentum on their side, the Badgers took a 3-2 lead a minute and a half later. Jordy Murray made a nice move down the left side boards and found a streaking Blake Geoffrion who redirected the puck in the net for his second goal of the night.
The Poineers would not go quietly. Fighting tooth and nail right down to the wire, the Pio's got the game tying goal from Anthony Maiani with just under two minutes to play in the game.
With the game tied at 3-3, Wisconsin called timeout with :04 seconds to play in the game. On the faceoff, Ben Street kicked the puck to Cody Gouloubef in front of the net but he found iron with :01 to play.
In overtime, both teams had multiple opportunities to end the game but it just wasn't meant to be. The game finished as a hard fought 3-3 tie.
Both goaltenders played outstanding all night and kept their respective teams in the game. Saturday night is going to be one hell of a battle.
Notes: Brendan Smith left the game in the third period with an apparent elbow injury. He looked to be in serious pain. I'll give up an update when I hear official word, but it doesn't look good for the Junior defenseman. It's too bad, Smith was the leading scorer on the team with 30 points in 22 games for Bucky.
Friday Night Three Stars:
First Star-Blake Geoffrion-UW (2 Goals)
Second Star-Marc Cheverie-Denver (32 Saves)
Third Star(s)-Michael Davies-UW (G, A), Anthony Miani-DU (Clutch GTG, A)
Photo by RedHeat15
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