Defenseman Asher Barnett scored with 4:53 left in regulation, and second-ranked Michigan beat top-ranked Denver 4-3 on Saturday night at Magness Arena to finish a two-game sweep of the defending national champions. Jack Ivankovic made 33 saves as the Wolverines improved to 6-0-0. Denver, which has lost both of its home games, fell to 2-2-0 before a crowd of 7,009.
How the goals came
Denver scored first for the only time in the series, as Kristian Epperson converted a power play at 8:47 of the first period. Michigan answered twice. Garrett Schifsky tied it at 10:50, from Jack Nesbitt and Drew Schock, and Adam Valentini scored on the power play at 16:12, with Landon DuPont and Henry Mews assisting. DuPont, who missed Friday’s game with an injury, was back in the lineup.
Jayden Perron made it 3-1 at 4:10 of the second, his ninth goal of the season, from Will Horcoff and Michael Hage. Sam Harris pulled Denver within one on a power play at 11:45, and Kieran Cebrian tied it 3-3 at 5:38 of the third.
Barnett broke the tie at 15:07, assisted by Nick Moldenhauer and Hage, for his first goal of the season. Hage finished with two assists. Denver pulled goaltender Tyler Krivtsov twice in the final minutes but could not find the equalizer.
In goal and on special teams
Denver outshot Michigan 36-25, including 29-10 over the final two periods. Ivankovic stopped 13 shots in the second and 14 in the third. Krivtsov made 21 saves. Denver went 2-for-6 on the power play and Michigan 1-for-3.
What’s next
Michigan returns home to host No. 6 Western Michigan, also unbeaten, on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines then visit Ohio State on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
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