Denver and Wisconsin will meet in the 2026 national championship game on Saturday night after narrowly escaping their semifinal matchups with action-packed wins.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Denver defeated Michigan in a double-overtime thriller<\/a>, giving the Pioneers a chance to win their third title in five years. Defenseman Kent Anderson scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime period, setting the stage for a battle with Wisconsin.<\/p>\n The Badgers, meanwhile, beat North Dakota in the semifinals<\/a> behind a terrific performance from goaltender Daniel Hauser. The Wisconsin men’s hockey program is looking to win its first title since 2006.<\/p>\n Follow along right here for live updates and highlights from the national championship game between Denver and Wisconsin.<\/p>\n Denver vs. Wisconsin score\u00a0123FDenver0\u00a0\u00a00Wisconsin1\u00a0\u00a01Denver vs. Wisconsin live updates, highlights from 2026 NCAA championship game<\/p>\n 7:01 p.m.:\u00a0In desperate need for some offense, the Pioneers had a possible call for a hooking but the referees play on. Denver has not been able to produce anything at even strength.<\/p>\n 6:59 p.m.:\u00a0Chances have been limited this period, but both teams get one in rapid pace here.<\/p>\n First, a puck is thrown right in front of Hauser, but Denver still can’t get a shot off. On the other side, Hicks sees a shot the whole way and covers it up. He’s up to 16 on the day.<\/p>\n 6:54 p.m.:\u00a0The Badger defense is suffocating everything around the net, limiting Denver to just four total shots on the day.<\/p>\n Wisconsin leads scoring chances 15-4.<\/p>\n 6:50 p.m.:\u00a0Wisconsin has had some chances to double the lead, but defensive pays by Denver or saves by Hicks have kept the game at 1-0.<\/p>\n There’s 7:30 remaining in the second.<\/p>\n 6:43 p.m.:\u00a0The Badgers get a shot from the point but Hicks swallows it up. Currently, Wisconsin is outshooting Denver 15-4. It would be more, but Denver has blocked 14 shots in the contest.<\/p>\n 6:41 p.m.:\u00a0Denver finally gets some shots, but Hauser is there to make the saves.<\/p>\n With 11:08 remaining in the middle frame, Wisconsin still leads 1-0.<\/p>\n 6:36 p.m.:\u00a0Seven minutes through the second and Denver is yet to register a shot.<\/p>\n The Pioneers have went over 14 minutes of game time since their last shot on goal.<\/p>\n 6:29 p.m.:\u00a0Wisconsin is on the hunt again, this time a shot from the left circle going just wide. Then, Ashcroft makes a block for Denver with the puck heading towards the net.<\/p>\n 6:26 p.m.:\u00a0The puck has dropped in the second period.<\/p>\n The Badgers lead 1-0 heading into the middle frame, and they win the first faceoff.<\/p>\n 6:21 p.m.:\u00a0Denver’s two first period shots were the fewest its had in an period the entire season.<\/p>\n With the second period minutes away, expect a change from the Pioneers.<\/p>\n End of the first period: Wisconsin 1, Denver 0<\/p>\n 6:09 p.m.:\u00a0The first period is over in Las Vegas, much to a roar of the Wisconsin faithful.<\/p>\n It’s the Badgers who have a 1-0 lead behind Zelenov’s goal; beyond that, Wisconsin is outshooting Denver 10-2 and has controlled the majority of the play.<\/p>\n Carle’s team needs a big change to keep its title hopes alive.<\/p>\n 6:08 p.m.:\u00a0As the period’s winding down, the Badgers keep on pressing.<\/p>\n Now, a shot from Aiden Dubinsky is saved by Hicks and the puck caroms to the boards after a few opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n 6:04 p.m.:\u00a0Denver has been uncharacteristically out of sorts, only logging one shot of goal and having limited zone time throughout the first period.<\/p>\n Shots are 8-2 Badgers as we approach the three-minute mark.<\/p>\n Wisconsin 1, Denver 0<\/p>\n 6:00 p.m. GOAL:\u00a0The first team on the board is the one who has been controlling play all period.<\/p>\n Wisconsin strikes first in the national championship, with freshman\u00a0Vasily Zelenov ripping a shot from the left circle past Hicks.\u00a0<\/p>\n “IT’S A RUSSIAN ROCKET!” \ud83d\ude80<\/p>\n Vasily Zelenov gets the Badgers on the board first! \ud83d\udea8#MFrozenFour<\/a> x \ud83c\udfa5 ESPN \/ @BadgerMHockey<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/fJszYZw9Sm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The Badgers have been dominant, and now, they have a goal to show for it.<\/p>\n 5:58 p.m.:\u00a0Hicks has picked up right where he left off, standing tall after the 49-save performance the other night.\u00a0<\/p>\n Now, on the Badgers power play, Hicks makes every save thrown at him and both teams are now 0-for-1 on the man advantage.<\/p>\n Hicks is up to seven saves on the day.<\/p>\n 5:53 p.m.:\u00a0Halfway in, it’s the Badgers who have performed better. Wisconsin has limited Denver’s high-octane offense to only two shots, and now, it will go to the power play for the first time today.<\/p>\n It’s Cale Ashcroft who goes to the box for Denver for a boarding penalty.<\/p>\n 5:52 p.m.:\u00a0Denver’s first shot of the game comes eight minutes in, and it’s a Sam Harris shot on a breakaway. But, it’s saved by Daniel Hauser with the left pad.<\/p>\n On the other side, it’s Hicks who then makes a play with the puck right to his left and covers it up.<\/p>\n 5:45 p.m.:\u00a0We’re at the 14:10 mark and it’s time for the first commercial break. So far, play has favored the Badgers; David Carle’s team, on the other hand, has yet to register a shot.<\/p>\n 5:41 p.m.:\u00a0Wisconsin gets an odd-man rush on the power play, but Gavin Morrissey’s shot is saved by Hicks.<\/p>\n The Badgers have killed the power play and we are now four minutes in.<\/p>\n 5:38 p.m.:\u00a0Denver will be the first team with a man advantage today, with Wisconsin’s Oliver Tulk going to the box for tripping.<\/p>\n 5:37 p.m.:\u00a0The first quality chance goes to Wisconsin, who gets a clear shot from the point but its saved by Hicks. He makes another save moments later.<\/p>\n 5:34 p.m.:\u00a0The puck has dropped and we are underway in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n Stay tuned for live updates and highlights.<\/p>\n 5:30 p.m.:\u00a0Teams are on the ice and the start of the national championship is moments away.<\/p>\n Will the national champion be Denver or Wisconsin at the end of the night?<\/p>\n 5:21 p.m.:\u00a0On the other side we have the Pioneers, who are looking for their NCAA-leading 11th championship.<\/p>\n Denver’s projected lineup for the National Championship Game. #GoPios<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/aLFnKHnAVT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) April 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 5:16 p.m.:\u00a0The official lines are out for the Badgers.<\/p>\n How the Badgers are lining up for the national championship game against Denver: pic.twitter.com\/bEtyCCEX0v<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) April 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Tassy and Botterill, the two goalscorers in the semis, are the wings on the second line.<\/p>\n 5:06 p.m.:\u00a0The last time these two blue bloods met in the NCAA tournament was the 2008 Midwest Regional semifinal in Madison, a game that still stings for the Pioneer faithful.<\/p>\n Despite Denver outshooting the Badgers 32-26, Wisconsin broke the game open with a four-goal third period to secure a 6-2 victory and advance to the regional final. Future NHL stars headlined that matchup, with Wisconsin\u2019s Kyle Turris and Jamie McBain leading the charge, while a young Tyler Bozak suited up for the Pioneers.<\/p>\n That win extended the Badgers’ postseason dominance over Denver, a streak the Pioneers are finally looking to snap tonight on the sport’s biggest stage.<\/p>\n 5:00 p.m.:\u00a0The national championship is a half hour away.<\/p>\n A stunner \ud83d\ude0d#MFrozenFour<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/gyN0EHDi4H<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 4:49 p.m.:\u00a0The Pioneers entered the 2025-26 season with the target of a defending champion on their back, but they navigated the NCHC with trademark efficiency to finish with a 28-11-3 overall record. Despite some mid-season turbulence, they secured an automatic bid by capturing the NCHC Tournament title and entered the NCAA field as the No. 2 seed in the Loveland Regional.<\/p>\n Denver’s road to Las Vegas was a masterclass in resilience; after dispatching Cornell and Western Michigan in the regionals, they outlasted top-seeded Michigan in a grueling 4-3 double-overtime semifinal where Kent Anderson finally ended the marathon.<\/p>\n Wisconsin\u2019s journey has been a testament to the quick turnaround under Mike Hastings, finishing the regular season at 24-12-2 and proving to be one of the nation’s toughest outs away from home. The Badgers earned an at-large bid out of a deep Big Ten and caught fire in the Worcester Regional, upsetting No. 3 seed Michigan State to punch their ticket to the Frozen Four.<\/p>\n The Badgers reached tonight’s final by leaning on their stifling defensive structure to take down second-seeded North Dakota 2-1, surviving a desperate late-game push by the Fighting Hawks to keep their championship dreams alive.<\/p>\n 4:39 p.m.:\u00a0Both teams have arrived at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the championship game less than an hour away.<\/p>\n Championship…\u23f3#GoPios<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/8YtzlKA2uD<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) April 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Wisco pullin up \ud83d\ude8d#MFrozenFour<\/a> x @BadgerMHockey<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/eRP9gkQG2c<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 4:30 p.m.:\u00a0Welcome to the national championship game. Today, either Denver or Wisconsin will be the kings of the 2026 college hockey season.<\/p>\n Let’s start with David Carle’s Denver Pioneers, who are chasing an unprecedented 11th national title. The Pios arrive at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas riding a massive wave of momentum, fueled by a 14-game unbeaten streak. Their path to this final was anything but easy; they just survived the longest game in program history on Thursday, a grueling 4-3 double-overtime thriller against the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines.<\/p>\n KENT ANDERSON WITH THE 2OT WINNER IN THE FROZEN FOUR SEMIS \ud83e\udd76<\/p>\n DENVER WILL FACE WISCONSIN IN THE NATTY \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/D8WdNsrfWT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ESPN (@espn) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks was the hero of that marathon, stopping 49 of 52 shots to keep Denver\u2019s season alive. While Denver has already won three titles in the last decade (2017, 2022, 2024), they face a historical hurdle today: the Pioneers are 0-3 all-time against Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament.<\/p>\n Across the ice, Mike Hastings has the Badgers back in the title game for the first time since 2006. Wisconsin took a more efficient route to the final, stifling North Dakota in a 2-1 victory behind two goals in a 27-second span from Simon Tassy and Ryan Botterill. With freshman Daniel Hauser matching school records in net, the Badgers are looking to reclaim their spot atop the hockey world in what promises to be a legendary blue-blood battle.<\/p>\n How to watch Denver vs. Wisconsin tonight: TV channel, live stream<\/p>\n Denver vs. Wisconsin will air nationally on ESPN. The national championship 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 NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB and college sports, plus “SportsCenter,” “First Take” and all your favorite ESPN shows \u2014 anytime, anywhere \u2014 only in the new\u00a0ESPN app<\/a>.<\/p>\n Denver vs. Wisconsin start timeDate:\u00a0Saturday, April 11Time:\u00a05:30\u00a0p.m. ET<\/p>\n Denver vs. Wisconsin is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 11. The game will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.<\/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