Michigan
31-8-1
Denver
28-11-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT 1 | OT 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Michigan | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Top-Ranked Michigan's Season Ends in 2OT in Frozen Four Semifinal
4/10/2026 2:47:00 AM | Ice Hockey
» T.J. Hughes scored a goal to finish his career with 179 points, 20th-most in program history.
» Jayden Perron scored a power-play goal on Michigan's lone opportunity in regulation.
» U-M is 61-34 in 95 tournament contests, including an NCAA-record 23 that required overtime.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The top-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team played nearly five full periods before dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker in double overtime to third-ranked and second-seeded Denver at the 2026 Frozen Four semifinals inside T-Mobile Arena on Thursday evening (April 9).
The Wolverines entered the contest with a 5-0-1 record in overtime games and outshot the Pioneers 22-8 during the combined overtime sessions. However, Denver (28-11-3) made its third shot of the fifth frame count when it buried a game-winning goal at 12:35 of the second overtime to secure a spot in Saturday's national championship game
Tied 3-3 after the first overtime, Michigan continued to carry the play into the heart of double overtime, as the Wolverines had a 13-2 lead in shots on goal at the media timeout with under nine minutes left in the period. The next shot on goal decided the game as the Pioneers netted their third shot on goal of the frame, ending the Wolverines' season.
Denver earned the first power play of the night at 6:43 when a Michigan defender was sent off for holding. The crimson and gold kept the puck in the offensive zone for long stretches but failed to generate a dangerous look before the action returned to even strength.
Less than a minute later, the Pioneers capitalized on a turnover in Michigan's zone to force a shot through the pads of Jack Ivankovic at 9:29 and claimed a 1-0 lead.
Michigan equalized at 16:18 when senior forward Josh Eernisse used a quick release to snap a shot past the netminder, fresh off an offensive zone faceoff win by Kienan Draper.
The Wolverines continued to roll just under one minute later when a shot from Adam Valentini caromed off the end wall before popping out the other side of the net for T.J. Hughes to finish off. He was in perfect position near the blue paint to complete the play, banging the puck into the net from a perch near the right post to seize a one-goal lead at 17:17. The nation's leader in assists, Michael Hage, secured his 39th of the campaign, notching the secondary on Hughes' 22nd goal as a senior.
U-M carried a 2-1 lead to the locker room after 20 minutes following their two-goal barrage that took less than a minute of game time. The Wolverines narrowly trailed the Pios in shots on goal, 10-9, but built up a 10-8 edge in the faceoff dot.
Denver went back on the man advantage 19 seconds into the second period. Michigan's special teams unit killed off the infraction once again, but the Wolverines conceded an even-strength goal after play returned to 5-on-5 at 2:30 to tie the game at 2-2.
The teams remained deadlocked through 40 minutes as they headed into the second intermission. U-M used a strong 13-5 second-period advantage in shots on goal to surge ahead for a 22-15 lead in that category, but Denver sneaked back in front in the faceoff dot for a 21-20 edge. The Pios were 0-for-2 on the power play, while Michigan continued to search for its first chance. Dating back to the 2022 Frozen Four, DU had posted six consecutive periods of play against U-M without taking a penalty, keeping the Wolverines' top-ranked power-play unit at bay.
For the second period in a row, Michigan took a penalty in the first minute of the third. Once again, it killed off the minor to preserve the tie, but U-M picked up its fourth call of the night, giving the Pioneers another chance with the extra skater at 5:04. The PK unit improved to 4-for-4 as the teams returned to full strength with the score knotted up at three.
The Wolverines finally received a power play at 10:16, following a dangerous sequence in the DU zone that ended with Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen taking a cross-check up high after the whistle to earn the opportunity.
Michigan's power-play unit struck at 11:02 to reclaim a 3-2 lead when Jayden Perron slipped a shot past the goaltender from long range, thanks to a screen from Malcolm Spence, who hopped through the shooting lane to take away the goalie's view. Sophomore forward Will Horcoff picked up the primary assist on Perron's 17th of the season, while Spence earned the secondary.
Fresh out of the final media timeout with under three minutes left in regulation, Denver worked the puck toward the goalmouth from the half wall for a forward to deflect it up and over Ivankovic to tie the game at 3-3 with 2:46 remaining in regulation.
U-M ended the third period with a commanding 31-18 lead in shots on goal, in addition to a slim 30-29 lead in the faceoff dot. With the contest headed to an extra session and a spot in the national championship game on the line, Michigan extended its record for most OT games in the history of the NCAA tournament (23). The team's power-play unit was 1-for-1 following the late conversion, and Denver was 0-for-4.
Each side threatened on offense amid end-to-end action. Leading 7-5 in shots on goal during overtime, U-M was whistled for a penalty with 2:26 left, disrupting the flow of the frame as DU embarked upon its fifth power play of the night.
Fifty-four seconds later, Draper drew a penalty on the Pioneers while engaging in PK activity in the defensive zone to even things up at 4-on-4 and bump Michigan's success rate on the penalty kill to 5-for-5 on the night.
The first OT session failed to produce a winner, so the teams headed back to their dressing rooms to strategize for a fourth intermission. In the first overtime period, Michigan extended its lead in shots on goal (39-23) and faceoffs (40-36).
Michigan finished the night with twice as many shots on goal (52-26) as well as a narrow 47-45 edge in the faceoff department.
On Friday night (April 10), Hughes and the Wolverines will attend the Hobey Baker Award ceremony. One of three finalists for college hockey's most prestigious honor, Hughes will await the result, beginning at 5 p.m. PT. on NHL Network and YouTube.
