
Michaels lifts Western Michigan to 3-2 2OT Frozen Four semifinal win over defending champion Denver
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Owen Michaels scored his second goal 26 seconds into the second overtime and Western Michigan beat defending champion Denver 3-2 on Thursday night to advance to its first Frozen Four title game.
Brian Kramer also scored and freshman Hampton Slukynsky stopped 20 shots for a veteran-laden Western Michigan team making its Frozen Four debut in its 10th NCAA tournament appearance. The Broncos (33-7-1) set a single-season record for victories, extended their winning streak to nine and won after blowing a 2-0 third-period lead.
Western Michigan will face the Boston University-Penn State winner in the championship game Saturday night.
Jared Wright, with the tying goal with 2:39 left in regulation, and Aidan Thompson scored, and Matt Davis had 44 saves for Denver (31-12-1). The Pioneers, who have won a tournament-leading 10 titles and two in the previous three years, failed in their bid to become the NCAA’s ninth team to repeat as champions, and first since Minnesota-Duluth in 2018 and 2019.