Denver gets past Minnesota-Duluth for 8th national title

Holding off a furious late push from Minnesota-Duluth in the third period, Denver secured the 2017 Frozen Four national championship by a final score of 3-2 Saturday night at the United Center.

Denver represented its No. 1-ranked status well to begin the game, firing the first nine shots on goal. However, once Minnesota-Duluth found its legs, both teams were neck and neck, with goaltenders Tanner Jaillett and Hunter Miska combining for 23 saves in a scoreless opening frame.

In the second period, Pioneers forward Jarid Lukosevicius scored two goals in sixteen seconds, then after Bulldogs top scorer Alex Iafallo cut the lead in half, Lukosevicius completed the hat trick to give Denver a 3-1 lead heading into the third.

The final frame belonged solely to Minnesota-Duluth, who outshot Denver 17-3 in the closing 20 minutes. Dallas Stars first-round pick Riley Tufte scored to make it 3-1 with just over five minutes to play, but that's as close as the Bulldogs would get, as Jaillett stood tall to close out the victory.

The title is Denver's eighth in program history, and first since 2005. Only Michigan (nine) has won more national championships than the Pioneers, while North Dakota is the only other program to reach eight.