Aidan Thompson calls games in overtime to lift pioneers over Sun Devils and expand Tenzer Streak

An evening when the No. 6 Denver pioneers (20-6-1, 9-5-1 NCHC) were looking to make some revenge for a home coward in November, special teams were anything but special but their Dominant games of five-to-five were just enough to outdo their own leaky defense and a Pesky #12 Arizona State Sun Devils (16-10-1, 11-6-0 NCHC) team that deleted two separate you lead to to win 5-4 on overtime. Entering the game was asu tied with Western Michigan for first place in NCHC, allowing the pioneers’ two points to at least enable them to move a point closer to the top of the conference and Leapfrog North Dakota to 4th place.

Pios wearing a patch on their uniforms and helmets to honor Dan Ritchie. All of you -hold wears patch. (Photos from you hockey on twitter)

– Letsgodu (@letsgodu.bsky.social) 2025-02-08T02: 03: 22,832Z

ASU opened the score early on the game’s first Power Play, only 1:41 in, before the hosts handed the pioneers three quick Power Play options, including a five-to-three look that lasted 1:07. Denver failed to convert on any of these options. Fortunately, Garrett Brown found a striped Jared Wright and jumped him on an interruption where the fast forward tied the game and gave the pioneers the shock they needed.

From there, the pioneers dominated most of the game on five-to-five. For large parts of the second period, including the first 10 minutes, Denver was far the better team. They won each race to the puck, 50-50 strokes went in the pioneers’ way, and Sam Harris and Boston Buckberger each spoke a highlight goal to give Denver their first two-goal lead in the season against Sun Devils.

However, they would not hold on to the lead, something of a theme that night. Two cruel asu goals later – both the product of unfortunate jumps in the curl combined with a lack of DU -defensive presence in the gap – the game was tied back into the third period.

However, Aidan Thompson, DU’s very own junior sniper, had not yet made his mark on the game, and boy he ever did in the third period and overtime. Like the second period, Denver came out in the third and dominated and held ASU for just one shot on goal for almost 13 minutes. Along the way, Eric Pohlkamp saved a tough game in the neutral zone with a fantastic chippas for Jack Devine, who then found Thompson in the middle of the ice all alone. Thompson drove to the gap, Deked Asu goalkeeper Luke Pavicich, and found his five hole to restore Denver’s lead.

Despite plenty of chances of doubling their lead, the pioneers couldn’t find the back of the web again in regulation. And after a failed clear of the pioneers in their own zone with Asus Net inch and many tired legs on the ice for the visitors, Bennett Schimek found the back of a gaping cage thanks to a perfect care over the gap from Artem Shlaine. Overtime for the second Friday night in a row.

After the pioneers killed Samu Salmin’s tripping-lesser-year-old, which took place at the end of the regulation, Aidan Thompson put his superhero cap on again and skating around January’s HCA National Co-Player of the Month 5-4 win, which most importantly counts As such for the pairing locations (a shootout would have spoken as a draw).

The victory is Pioneers ’20. And extends Tenzer Streak to 23 equal full seasons with at least 20 wins. Last time the pioneers couldn’t detect 20 wins in a whole season? 2000-2001-GEORGE GWOZDECKYS 7th season with the program.

It wasn’t a perfect game in any way for the pioneers, but they sparked an important road victory against a team that thought they had you’s number after the early seasonal sweep at the Magness Arena. Now, step two of the quest for revenge on them-can pioneers earns three more points tomorrow night, earn the road celebration and make it a five-point road weekend against a very good team?

Only one way to find out. The puck falls at Mullett Arena tomorrow night at. 17.00 Mt. It will be the television on nchc.tv and height 2 (including for you now, comcast customers!).

Highlights

Wright flyer divides D! brown delivers a perfect passport and Denver ties the game with a #nchctopplay: CBS SPORTS NETWORK #NCHCHOCKEY // #GOPIOS

– Nchc (@therechc.bsky.social) 2025-02-08T03: 08: 49,446Z

Backhand am Harris puts Denver ahead early in 2.: CBS SPORTS NETWORK #nchchockey // #gopios

– Nchc (@therechc.bsky.social) 2025-02-08T03: 23: 19,706z

All tied up at Mullett Arena! Sillings clean up the rebound for Arizona State. Catch the 3rd period now at CBS SPORTS NETWORK! #nchchockey // #bethetradition

– Nchc (@therechc.bsky.social) 2025-02-08T04: 11: 15,300z

What a goal! Aidan Thompson ends 5 holes to restore the denver lead with a #nchctopplay : CBS SPORTS NETWORK #nchchockey // #Gopios

– Nchc (@therechc.bsky.social) 2025-02-08T04: 17: 49.072Z

Aidan Thompson with dagger to Denver! The @nhlblackhawks.bsky.social draft pick snipes ot -the winner with his 2nd goal at night! #nchchockey // #gopios

– Nchc (@therechc.bsky.social) 2025-02-08T05: 02: 12.621Z