LetsGoDU: Miami Comes Back in Third Period to Tie Denver, 3-3

We’ve all heard the old cliché , a 2–0 lead is the worst lead“. Well, it certainly was Friday night for DU when the Pioneers held a 3-1 lead in the third period. The visiting Miami Redhawks responded with two goals and knotted the game to force a 3-on-3 overtime period. Denver found the post in the 5-minute OT but neither team could find the back of the cage in the extra period. Denver finally scored on one of their three shootout opportunities while Matt Davis held the Redhawks off the board for the two conference points.

#3 DU hockey (20-8-3, 11-6-2) returned to Magness Arena Friday night to face the Miami Redhawks. For the first two periods, Denver played a surgical game with solid defense, team speed and timely offense. It looked and felt like a Denver win. The Redhawks got on the board first on a powerplay tip-in goal by Matthew Barbolini but Denver had the pace. Four minutes later, DU’s Jared Wright countered with a powerplay goal, checkmate, 1-1. Denver outshot Miami 11-3 in the first period.

Denver seemed to be controlling the game, despite the scoreboard. Midway through the second period, Sam Harris gave Denver the lead, 2-1, with the only goal of the period. Denver outshot the Redhawks 13-6 and Matt Davis looked steady in goal for Denver.

Miami created some chances in the first half of the third period but Matt Davis was rock solid in goal, not allowing rebounds and second chances. Trevor Wright appeared to slam the door with a goal midway through the period, 3-1, Denver. Miami came to life when two minutes later, a tip-in by Miami’s Raimonds Vitolins on the powerplay narrowed Denver’s lead to 3-2. Five minutes later, with three minutes left,  Barbolini struck again for the Redhawks, 3-3. Miami carried the play to DU over the last ten minutes and forced overtime. The Redhawks flipped the script and outshot DU 13 to 7 in the third period to force extra time.

Denver could not solve Bruno Bruveris in the extra five-minute frame, despite clanking a slap shot off the pipe. The game went to a shootout when Tristan Broz was the only skater for either team to score as he juked on a double move and slid the puck past Bruveris for the conference points.

It was a bittersweet night as Denver appeared to have the best of the Redhawks for the first two periods but could not match the Redhawks effort in the third period. The Pioneers have a chance to make amends Saturday at 6:00 pm against these same Miami Redhawks.