The No. 3 Denver Pioneers live to play another day. Having to go to a Game 3 against the No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers in the 2012 WCHA Playoffs, the Pioneers came away with the 3-2 overtime victory on Sunday night. Luke Salazar netted the game-winning goal at 1:40 in overtime, with assists going to Drew Shore and Scott Mayfield.
The Badgers had opened up a 1-0 lead in the second period with 6:40 gone on the clock. It took less than five minutes for the Pioneers to answer back with a goal from Ty Loney and assists to Salazar and Drew Shore. But the Badgers quickly took back the lead with a Tyler Barnes goal.
Nick Shore, though, tied the game at two early in the third period, scoring a goal at 2:01. Jason Zucker and Drew Shore picked up assists on the goal.
Pioneers goalie Sam Brittain made 24 saves on 26 shots while his teammates put up 33 on Wisconsin's Joel Rumpel.
The Pioneers are back in the WCHA Final Five and will play Michigan Tech on Thursday, March 15, in the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The puck drop will come at 1:07 p.m. MT.
Head over to Western College Hockey Blog for more WCHA news and notes.