Denver vs. St. Cloud State men’s hockey: Live updates, score

This will mark the second series between the No. 3 Pioneers and the No. 4 Huskies this season.

The two sides played to a split in Denver back at the start of November, with SCSU taking Game 1, 4-3, in overtime after late heroics on Nov. 4, before the Pios bounced back the following night to win, 3-2. 

DU suffered a slip up two weeks ago in a 3-1 upset at home to Alaska Fairbanks. They roared back in Game 2, winning 7-2 to split the series, before going on to sweep Miami (Ohio) with a pair of 7-0 shutouts last weekend. 

The Pioneers have benefitted from a three-headed monster up front with Massimo Rizzo leading the production, Casey Dornbach scoring over a point per game (11-15–26) and Carter Mazur leading the team with 17 goals in 24 games (23 points). On the backend, Mike Benning has chipped in 22 points (7-15–22), and in goal, Magnus Chrona remains as solid as ever. 

St. Cloud has come out of the break with two splits, first with then-No. 3 Minnesota two weeks back before a split with Colorado College at home last time out, losing 4-2 before coming back with a 4-0 victory. 

The Huskies’ leaders and most experienced skaters have stepped up this season, with Jami Krannila leading the way. Grant Cruikshank (15-9–24) and Zach Okabe (13-11–24) are right behind, and blue-liner Dylan Anhorn is also over a point per game with 23 points (5-18–23). Goaltenders Dominic Basse and Jaxon Castor (8-4-0, .923 SV%, 2.01 GAA, 1 SO) have split the net pretty evenly, and both have had strong seasons.