Denver vs. Minnesota State live score, updates, highlights for Frozen Four championship game

By | April 9, 2022
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The script as flipped as Denver has pulled ahead of Minnesota State 2-1 in the national championship with two goals in a span of four minutes in the beginning of the third period. 

First, Denver’s Ryan Barrow cleaned up a rebound in front early in the third period to tie the game before Mike Benning grabbed the lead with a one-timer goal. 

Minnesota State’s Sam Morton got the scoring started with a power play goal in the first period. 

The Pioneers are eyeing their ninth title in program history, which would tie the program with Michigan for the most in NCAA Division I history. The Mavericks are looking to make history of their own; the program has never hoisted the Division I title. 

The Sporting News will provide live updates and highlights from Denver vs. Minnesota State in the Frozen Four championship game.

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Denver vs. Minnesota State live updates, highlights from NCAA Frozen Four championship

10:14 p.m. ET — Confirmed, no goal for Denver, but the Pioneers still have a 2-1 lead. 

10:13 p.m. ET — Denver appears to make it 3-1 just moments after the Benning goal, but the goal is waived off for goaltender interference. Bobby Brink goes into the crease and makes contact with McKay. Going to review.  

10:10 p.m. ET — GOAL! Denver grabs the lead thanks to a one-time goal by Mike Benning. Won’t count as a PP goal, but Benning beats McKay on the blocker side with the slap shot. 2-1 Denver with 12:27 to go. 

10:05 p.m. ET — Now Denver heads to their third power play of the night. Sam Morton off for tripping. Denver 0-for-2 so far in the game and have not scored a power play in the NCAA tournament. 

10:03 p.m. ET — GOAL! Denver’s Ryan Barrow collects a rebound in front and beats McKay to tie the game. Slap shot from the wall by Mike Benning is saved by McKay but Barrow slides the rebound through his legs. 1-1 with 15:14 to go. 

10:02 p.m. ET — Another great chance for the Mavericks off an offensive zone faceoff. Puck thrown in front, scrum ensues but the puck stays out. 

9:59 p.m. ET — Huge stop by Chrona in the opening three minutes of the third. 2 on 1 for Minnesota State, Jake Livingstone walks on the right side but shot is saved by the Denver goalie. 

9:55 p.m. ET — Puck is down for the 3rd period. Minnesota State 20 minutes away from the program’s first national championship. 

9:38 p.m. ET — END OF PERIOD 2: Minnesota 1, Denver 0

No goals on either side in the second period, score remains 1-0 Minnesota State. Big stops by Chrona early to keep it a one-goal game. Denver finally got some momentum late, but yet to find the back of the net.

Shots 18-8 in favor of the Mavericks. 

9:35 p.m. ET — Huge pad save by McKay on Carter Mazur late in the 2nd. Turnover by Minnesota State down low and Mazur left alone with the puck in the slot, but no dice. 

9:31 p.m. ET — Lucas Sowder rings the crossbar for Minnesota State from a shot off the rush. Beat Chrona over the blocker, but couldn’t beat the iron. 4:27 to go in the second. 

9:25 p.m. ET — Well executed 3 on 2 by Denver, but Cameron Wright hits the outside of the net. Had McKay beat on the glove side. Best chance of the night for the Pioneers. 

9:21 p.m. ET — Second TV timeout of the middle frame with 8:51 to go. Game is more than halfway over and Denver has just five shots on goal. Score remains 1-0 Minnesota State. 

9:18 p.m. ET — Denver power play over, no shots on goal on the man advantage. 0-for-2 on the night, now 0-for-5 at the Frozen Four. 

9:17 p.m. ET — Minnesota State’s David Silye knocks down a D-to-D pass out of the air and gets a shorthanded breakaway, but stopped by Chrona. Second breakaway allowed by Denver on the power play, Chrona has bailed them out both times. 

9:15 p.m. ET — Bad penalty by Minnesota State as the team is called for too many men. Denver to its second power play of the night. 

9:12 p.m. ET — First TV timeout of the 2nd period with 13:40 left in the frame. Minnesota State controlling play early, continuing to play a physical, dump-and-chase style. 

9:04 p.m. ET — Puck has dropped for the 2nd. 

8:48 p.m. ET — END OF PERIOD 1: Minnesota 1, Denver 0

First period ends with the Horton goal being the only tally. Shots 8-3 in favor of Minnesota State. Back-and-forth play for the first half of the period, but the Mavericks took over in the last 10 minutes, with help from the Denver penalty. 

Mavericks are 19-1-0 this year when leading after the first period.

8:44 p.m. ET — Smith penalty is done. Couple of good chances for Denver late on the power play, but nothing by McKay. A Massimo Rizzo shot was blockered away and a Brett Stapley one-timer missed high. 

8:42 p.m. ET — Minnesota State’s Josh Groll gets a shorthanded breakaway, but runs out of room trying to get by Chrona on the side. Still 1-0 Mavericks. 

8:39 p.m. ET — Now it’s Minnesota State with a penalty as Nathan Smith is called for roughing. Denver to the PP, went 0-for-3 against Michigan in the semifinals. 

8:37 p.m. ET — GOAL! Minnesota State strikes on the power play thanks to a goal by Sam Morton, his ninth of the year. Shot from the point was blocked in front before finding its why to Lucas Sowder who passed to Morton for the one-timer. Secondary assist to Brendan Furry, goal scored 6:01 of the first. 

8:33 p.m. ET — Denver’s Mike Benning to the box. Two minutes for tripping. Minnesota State’s first power play of the Frozen Four, Denver’s first penalty taken of the Frozen Four. 

8:27 p.m. ET — Second TV timeout of the period. Game is still scoreless. High hit by Minnesota State captain Wyatt Aamodt on Denver’s Carter Mazur goes uncalled, officials letting the teams play early. 

8:23 p.m. ET — Denver’s Massimo Rizzo left alone in front but the pass from behind the net by Cameron Wright was deflected away by McKay. Still 0-0 as we reach the halfway point of the period. 

8:18 p.m. ET — First TV timeout, no score. Shots are 1-1 a piece, not a true high-scoring chance yet on either side. 

8:11 p.m. ET — Puck is down, championship game has begun! 

8:05 p.m. ET — The starters for the game are announced with McKay and Chrona in net for their respective teams. 

7 p.m. ET — Minnesota State goaltender Dryden McKay enters the game fresh off winning the 2022 Hobey Baker Award. 

The senior beat out Denver’s Bobby Brink and Minnesota’s Ben Meyers for the honor. McKay set an NCAA record for wins in a season (he’s up to 38) and could add to it with a win tonight. In October, McKay set the NCAA record for career shutouts, surpassing Ryan Miller’s 26. He’s now at 34.

He’ll be in net Saturday night for the Mavericks. Magnus Chrona will be in the Pioneers’ crease. 

When is the Denver vs. Minnesota State national championship game?

  • Date: Saturday, April 9
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET

The championship game will take place Saturday, April 9, at 8 p.m. ET. 

How to watch the Denver vs. Minnesota State national championship game

The Denver-Minnesota State game will air live on ESPN2. Canadian viewers can watch the game on TSN.ca or through the TSN app. 

For those looking to stream the Frozen Four game, it will be available on Watch ESPN, the ESPN app and fuboTV, which offers a free trial.

Where is the NCAA Frozen Four being played?

  • TD Garden, Boston 

TD Garden is the home of the NHL’s Bruins and NBA’s Celtics. This is the eighth time the city has hosted the event. 

It’s also home to the annual Beanpot, the annual college hockey tournament featuring the four major college hockey schools of the Boston area — Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern and Harvard. 

Who are the past champions of the NCAA Frozen Four?

A number of programs have earned their first NCAA title over the past decade. 

UMass, Union, Yale and Providence have won their first championship in the last 10 years. Go back another year, and Minnesota-Duluth earned its first national title in 2011. The Bulldogs later went back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. 

On the flip side, Denver and North Dakota recently added their eighth title to their program histories. North Dakota came out on top in 2016, followed by Denver winning in 2017. 

Here are all the Frozen Four tournament winners over the past 10 years:

  • 2021: UMass
  • 2020: Tournament canceled because of COVID-19
  • 2019: Minnesota-Duluth
  • 2018: Minnesota-Duluth
  • 2017: Denver
  • 2016: North Dakota
  • 2015: Providence
  • 2014: Union
  • 2013: Yale
  • 2012: Boston College

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