Denver won its 9th NCAA men's hockey championship. It was 0: 43.
Denver scored five unanswered third-period goals to win the NCAA Division I men's hockey championship.
It is the ninth title in program history for the Pioneers, which ties Michigan's NCAA record. The Mavericks will play for the Frozen Four title against Denver.
Two minutes and 47 seconds apart in the third period, senior forward Ryan Barrow and sophomore defenseman Mike Benning scored to erase Minnesota State's 1-0 lead, and finally break through against a Mavericks defense in front of Hobey Baker Award-winning goalie Dryden McKay.
I blacked out. I just saw my teammates coming towards me and I had to celebrate.
San Jose Sharks prospect Magnus Chrona made 24 saves in the victory.
In the first period, Minnesota State scored on the power play, with Benning in the box for tripping Andy Carroll. Junior forward Brendan Furry launched a shot from the left wing. The puck went through the legs of a Pioneers penalty killer to a Mavericks player. Morton's one-timer found the back of the net with 6:01) remaining in the first period, after he took him backwards as he shot the puck.
The Mavericks killed off a Denver power play in the first frame. Minnesota State had an 18-8 lead after two periods.
Denver coach David Carle said that they didn't get here by shying award from challenges.
Denver finally broke through against McKay and the Minnesota State defense. Freshman Jack Devine took a shot on right wing that McKay stopped with his pad, but senior Ryan Burrow was standing on his doorstep to deposit the puck into the net for the tie.
Denver was on the power play after Morton took a tripping penalty. After Minnesota State had taken a 2-0 lead on the power play, Benning blasted a one-timer on a pass from Buium for the go-ahead goal.
The referees did not rule on a goal for contact with McKay. With 6:26 left in the third period, freshman center Massimo Rizzo converted a 2-on-1 pass from freshman winger Carter Mazur to give the Pioneers a two-game lead. Stapley and Wright scored empty net goals.
Minnesota State made the Frozen Four for the first time last year. They defeated Minnesota in the semifinals before falling to Denver in the national title game.
McKay's college career likely ended with the loss. The Hobey Baker winner is just the third goalie to win the award and the first since NHL goalie Ryan Miller in 2001.
McKay did not win the Mike Richter Award, which went to a Buffalo Sabres prospect. He is a free agent. McKay has one more season of eligibility left at Minnesota State, but he doesn't intend to return for another NCAA campaign.
The last time the Pioneers won the title was in 2017: Jim Montgomery was replaced by Carle after that championship. Carle is the fourth youngest hockey head coach to win a national championship.
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