The stage is set for the NCAA men’s ice hockey national championship game after a pair of exciting Frozen Four matchups on Thursday night.
No. 3 Denver will face No. 1 Boston College on Saturday in what should be an exciting championship game at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The two teams have met four other times in the postseason, most recently in 2015 when the Pioneers beat the Eagles in the regional semifinal. None of the previous meetings have been as high-stakes as Saturday’s contest.
Denver is seeking its second championship in the last three years, while Boston College is looking for its first title since 2012.
Here’s a look at Thursday’s results ahead of Saturday’s championship matchup.
2024 Men’s Frozen Four Scores
Denver 2, Boston University 1
Denver beat Boston University 2-1 in overtime in the first game of the night. Boston struck first with a goal from Luke Tuch in the first period, but Denver had an answer in the second period in the form of a Tristan Lemyre.
THE TERRIERS WITH THE SHORTY!!! 🤩<br><br>📺 ESPN2 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MFrozenFour?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MFrozenFour</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/TerrierHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TerrierHockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/sixhKSjVps">pic.twitter.com/sixhKSjVps</a>
The Equalizer!! <br><br>📺 ESPN2<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MFrozenFour?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MFrozenFour</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/DU_Hockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DU_Hockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/5lwFle5idg">pic.twitter.com/5lwFle5idg</a>
After a scoreless third period, the game went into overtime, where Tristan Broz scored the game-winning goal.
OT WINNER 😱<br><br>DENVER IS HEADED TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/PUolwSnUTU">pic.twitter.com/PUolwSnUTU</a>
Now the Pioneers will play for their second national championship in the last three years. Denver faced a regional semifinal exit a year ago, but they’ve responded with an outstanding run this season.
DENVER IS HEADED TO THE FINAL<br><br>Overtime college hockey is probably responsible for more heart issues than any other sport. <a href="https://t.co/cKHoepkGqz">https://t.co/cKHoepkGqz</a>
One more. Go Pios. <a href="https://t.co/RohflkepBk">https://t.co/RohflkepBk</a>
GO PIOS!!! GO GET #10!!! <br> <a href="https://twitter.com/DU_Hockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DU_Hockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/0dokxsFPqv">https://t.co/0dokxsFPqv</a>
OT HERO TRISTAN BROZ AND WE'LL SEE YOU SATURDAY NIGHT
TOTAL BROZ MOVE! Tristan Broz buries the overtime game winner and DU is heading back to the national title game!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gopios?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gopios</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9sports?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9sports</a>
Boston College 4, Michigan 0
Things were a little less complicated in the second game of the night as the top-seeded Eagles handled business against the Wolverines. Boston College’s win over Michigan gave the Wolverines their first shutout loss in 28 Frozen Four appearances.
Boston College opened scoring up in the first period on a shot from Will Smith, and that wasn’t his only goal of the night. In the second period, Smith got his second goal on a bank shot to give the Eagles a 2-0 edge.
WILL SMITH, DUHHHHHHH!!!!!<br><br>📺 ESPN2 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MFrozenFour?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MFrozenFour</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/BC_MHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BC_MHockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/GIGSWykO5j">pic.twitter.com/GIGSWykO5j</a>
WILL SMITH WITH THE BANK SHOT. 🤩<br><br>📺 ESPN<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MFrozenFour?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MFrozenFour</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/BC_MHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BC_MHockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/8tlHUZFaR1">pic.twitter.com/8tlHUZFaR1</a>
Boston College got some more insurance in the second period on a goal from Cutter Gauthier, who broke away on open ice before beating Michigan’s goalie one-on-one to score.
HOW WE FEELING, EAGLES?!! 🦅<br><br>📺 ESPN<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MFrozenFour?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MFrozenFour</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/BC_MHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BC_MHockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/qUvSITIM4M">pic.twitter.com/qUvSITIM4M</a>
With a 3-0 lead already, Boston College put things away in the final period on a goal from Gabe Perreault.
FOR BOSTON, FOR BOSTON‼️<br><br>Gabe Perreault scores and the Eagles now lead 4-0. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForBostonAlways?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForBostonAlways</a>🦅 <br> <a href="https://t.co/I44Q94zfDS">pic.twitter.com/I44Q94zfDS</a>
Boston College earned the top seed after an impressive season, and their dominance was on full display on Thursday. Now Boston College will play in its first national championship game in more than a decade, and fans are hyped to see the Eagles possibly take home some hardware.
4-0 BC<br><br>They're a wagon and this game has shown it… speed and skill for days.
Don't think BC has even played all that well. And now they're up, 4-0. Impressive, in its own way
BC is just STACKED with talent it's almost unfair. They are gonna steamroll Denver I'm sorry. <br><br>Gabe Perreault (NYR) makes it 4-rip. <br><br>That's 4 goals from 3 first rounders (Gauthier, ANA; Smith x2, SJS; Perreault)
4-0<br>And that'll do it, wow Boston College is unbelievably skilled. You have to tip your cap, they're just a better team. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBlue?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoBlue</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FrozenFour?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FrozenFour</a> <a href="https://t.co/HwqoWPtzhM">pic.twitter.com/HwqoWPtzhM</a>
I know I've said this before, but I've never seen a college hockey team this stacked. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BostonCollege?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BostonCollege</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCEagles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCEagles</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyEaglesFly?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyEaglesFly</a>
Boston College hockey is a WAGON
Denver had an impressive win over Boston University on Thursday night, but it will now have a tall task against Boston College, which has been the best team in collegiate hockey all season.
The Pioneers boast one of the best collegiate programs of all time, winning nine Frozen Fours, but Boston College, which has five national championships, is looking to cut into that deficit and win its sixth title on Saturday.
