With two of the most successful programs in college hockey history facing off, fireworks were expected. Michigan and Denver delivered \u2014 and then some.<\/p>\n
On Thursday night, Denver outlasted Michigan in a riveting Frozen Four contest, securing a spot in the national championship game with a 4-3 victory. An unlikely hero ended the marathon battle, as Pioneers defenseman Kent Anderson scored the game-winning goal in double overtime.<\/p>\n
Denver will have to recover quickly with the national championship game scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 11. The Pioneers will take on Wisconsin, which beat North Dakota earlier in the evening, 2-1<\/a>.<\/p>\n Check out all of the highlights from Denver’s win over Michigan below.<\/p>\n Michigan vs. Denver score\u00a0123OT2OTFMichigan201003Denver111014Michigan vs. Denver updates, highlights from 2026 Frozen Four gameEnd of double overtime:\u00a0Denver 4, Michigan 3<\/p>\n 12:50 a.m. ET:\u00a0Kent Anderson scores!\u00a0DENVER WINS! The Pioneers will face Wisconsin in the national championship game.<\/p>\n KENT ANDERSON CALLS GAME IN DOUBLE OT! \ud83d\udea8#MFrozenFour<\/a> x \ud83c\udfa5 ESPN2 \/ @DU_Hockey<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/UfKfLJOkns<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 12:46 a.m. ET: Hicks has surpassed his previous career high for saves. His total may reach 50 before this game ends.<\/p>\n 12:26 a.m. ET: Double overtime has begun.\u00a0Hicks immediately saves what could have been a game-winning goal.<\/p>\n End of overtime: Michigan 3, Denver 3<\/p>\n 12:10 a.m. ET: One overtime period was not enough. We are going to double OT.<\/p>\n 12:05 a.m. ET: Ouch! Denver’s Boston Buckberger appears to have a nasty cut on his hand. His glove got caught underneath Will Horcoff’s skate. Certainly not intentional, but that looks painful.<\/p>\n 12 a.m. ET: It’s clear that everyone is running on fumes at this point. Those in the Eastern Time Zone have started a new day.<\/p>\n 11:46 p.m. ET: Hicks has been rock solid. He continues to keep Denver’s championship dream alive.<\/p>\n 11:37 p.m. ET: Hughes may have suffered an injury, but it looks like he will play through the pain.<\/p>\n End of third period: Michigan 3, Denver 3<\/p>\n 11:14 p.m. ET:\u00a0Free hockey! We are going to overtime.<\/p>\n 11:10 p.m. ET: WOW! With 2:46 left in the game, Clarke Caswell finds a spot in front of the net and deflects the puck past Ivankovic.<\/p>\n “That’s a beaut Clark(e)” \ud83c\udf1f<\/p>\n Clarke Caswell tips it in for the Pioneers with under three minutes remaining to tie it back up! #MFrozenFour<\/a> x \ud83c\udfa5 ESPN2 \/ @DU_Hockey<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ZbvK5RRwFk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 10:58 p.m. ET:\u00a0GOAL! With 8:58 left in the game, Jayden Perron rips a shot past Hicks on the power play to give Michigan a 3-2 lead.<\/p>\n Wolverines back on top \ud83c\udf1f @umichhockey<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com\/b8LWS72LTG<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 10:50 p.m. ET:\u00a0Another Michigan penalty, and this time it’s Garrett Schifsky for boarding. The Wolverines kill the penalty, though.<\/p>\n 10:40 p.m. ET: Denver gets a power play because of a Tyler Duke tripping penalty, but the Pioneers are unable to take advantage of the opportunity. Hicks appears to take a hit to the head, but he will remain in the game.<\/p>\n 10:35 p.m. ET: The third period has started.<\/p>\n End of second period: Michigan 2, Denver 2<\/p>\n 10:18 p.m. ET: After the Ashcroft goal early in the period, Hicks and Ivankovic turned into brick walls. Still tied heading into the third.<\/p>\n 10 p.m. ET: Hughes and Nick Moldenhauer try to beat Hicks, but he is locked in.<\/p>\n 9:44 p.m. ET:\u00a0Right as the power play ends,\u00a0Cale Ashcroft scores. All tied up at 2-2 in the second.<\/p>\n Cale Ashcroft ties. it. up. \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa ESPN2#MFrozenFour<\/a> x @DU_Hockey<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/aTleNm7Tus<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 9:40 p.m. ET:\u00a0The second period has begun, and Denver already has a power play opportunity.<\/p>\n End of first period:\u00a0Michigan 2,\u00a0Denver\u00a01<\/p>\n 9:20 p.m. ET:\u00a0Well, that was fast. T.J. Hughes scores to give the Wolverines their first lead of the game.<\/p>\n Michigan takes the lead \u203c\ufe0f @umichhockey<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com\/0yz7zLziRr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 9:18 p.m. ET:\u00a0MICHIGAN RESPONDS! Josh Eernisse scores with 3:42 left in the first period.<\/p>\n The Wolverines even the score \ud83d\ude24 @umichhockey<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com\/uqh77SSjiX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 9:03 p.m. ET:\u00a0GOAL! After a turnover, Kyle Chyzowski scores. Denver 1, Michigan 0.<\/p>\n BING, BANG, GOAL! \ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n Kyle Chyzowski opens the scoring for the Pios midway through the first! #MFrozenFour<\/a> x \ud83c\udfa5 ESPN2 \/ @DU_Hockey<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/3RNLesH5g2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 8:55 p.m. ET: Denver’s Johnny Hicks handles the shot from Michigan’s Adam Valentini. Both goalies have been tested early.<\/p>\n 8:47 p.m. ET: Jack Ivankovic with two quick saves for Michigan to start the game.<\/p>\n 8:45 p.m. ET: It’s time to play some hockey!<\/p>\n 8:30 p.m. ET: The lines for Michigan and Denver:<\/p>\n The Pioneers’ Projected Lineup for the #MFrozenFour<\/a> vs. Michigan.#GoPios<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/0afhZja27W<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) April 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Tonight’s lines \u2b07\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/WGgS6448ir<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) April 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 8:05 p.m. ET: Michigan vs. Denver should begin around 8:45 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n How to watch Michigan vs. Denver: TV channels, live streams<\/p>\n Michigan vs. Denver will air nationally on ESPN2. The game will also be available to stream on\u00a0fubo<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0ESPN app<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB and college sports, plus “SportsCenter,” “First Take” and all your favorite ESPN shows \u2014 anytime, anywhere \u2014 only in the new ESPN app.<\/p>\n NCAA men’s hockey tournament schedule, results 2026Thursday, March 26 \u2014 Regional SemifinalsGameMichigan State 2,\u00a0UConn 1Wisconsin 5, Dartmouth 1Quinnipiac 5, Providence 2North Dakota 3,\u00a0Merrimack 0Friday, March 27 \u2014\u00a0Regional SemifinalsGameWestern Michigan 3,\u00a0Minnesota State 1Michigan 5,\u00a0Bentley 1Denver 5,\u00a0Cornell 0Minnesota Duluth 3,\u00a0Penn State 1Saturday, March 28 \u2014 Regional FinalsGameWisconsin 4, Michigan State 3 (OT)North Dakota 5,\u00a0Quinnipiac 0Sunday, March 29 \u2014 Regional FinalsGameDenver 6, Western Michigan 2Michigan 4,\u00a0Minnesota Duluth 3Thursday, April 9 \u2014\u00a0SemifinalsGameWisconsin 2,\u00a0North Dakota 1Denver 4, Michigan 3 (2OT)Saturday, April 11 \u2014\u00a0FinalsGameTime (ET)TV\/Live StreamDenver vs. Wisconsin5:30 p.m.ESPN,\u00a0ESPN app<\/a>,\u00a0fubo<\/a>NCAA men’s hockey tournament\u00a0champions by year<\/p>\n Here are the last 10 tournament champions:<\/p>\n YearChampionRunner-up2025Western MichiganBoston University2024DenverBoston College2023QuinnipiacMinnesota2022DenverMinnesota State2021MassachusettsSt. Cloud State2020No tournament (COVID-19 pandemic)\u20142019Minnesota DuluthMassachusetts2018Minnesota DuluthNotre Dame2017DenverMinnesota Duluth2016North DakotaQuinnipiac2015ProvidenceBoston University<\/p>\n