NCAA MEN'S FROZEN FOUR: MICHIGAN VS DENVER

April 7, 2022

David Carle

Magnus Chrona

Carter Savoie

Ryan Barrow

TD Garden

Denver Pioneers

Semifinal Postgame Media Conference

Denver - 3, Michigan - 2 (OT)

COACH CARLE: It was a really good hockey game. I thought both teams checked really well. There wasn't a lot of ice, it didn't seem. And it was an entertaining game. We're obviously excited to be on the positive end. Give Michigan credit. I thought they adjusted well throughout the game. Made it harder on us.

But I give our players a ton of credit for, again, sticking with it, winning another one-goal hockey game. Tied in the third period. Took us a little longer tonight than it did in Loveland, but our guys stuck with it and got the job done and we're still in Boston through Saturday.

Q. Seems like Michigan played its best hockey in that overtime. How were you guys able to prevail and get that winning goal?

CARTER SAVOIE: I mean, they had a couple of really good shifts there in that overtime. I think our whole group did a really good job weathering it, not giving up that next goal. And then we found a way to put that one in.

RYAN BARROW: I thought Magnus was unbelievable in that overtime. Kind of let us get our feet settled there. And obviously our best players made a play.

Q. Carter, first to follow up what Ryan said, you didn't keep Magnus super busy in the regulation. But talk about the job he did early in overtime. And then describe how you scored that goal.

CARTER SAVOIE: I mean, I think tonight kind of reminds me of that Duluth game last weekend. First period he didn't have many shots, but he stuck with it, made some really big saves for us throughout the game. And then obviously on that last goal, Bobby made an unbelievable play. Goalie made a good save and then I got the rebound there.

Q. Carter, Erik Portillo made some big saves throughout the game. What was the relief when you guys broke through in overtime?

CARTER SAVOIE: Unbelievable feeling going through that winning -- gotta chance to win the championship here. So I mean no better feeling than that.

Q. Magnus, what were your thoughts tonight? You looked dialed in again. The last couple of weeks you really had some focus. How was it out there?

MAGNUS CHRONA: I think the first period was a lot similar to the Duluth game in the first period. But it's playoff hockey and can't get better than that. And, yeah, I think we're having a great time out there with each other. And it was just fun to be a part of.

Q. How do you guys think you were able to handle Michigan's top draft picks? And what do you think you guys were able to do well against them?

COACH CARLE: I thought we handled them very well. I love their team defense. Everybody, to a man, was up. They were angling, taking away time and space. Making life hard on them. And obviously when mistakes did happen, Magnus was there to shut the door and make a couple really big saves.

Obviously the Brisson save in overtime and the Hughes save in overtime were exceptional and kept us in the hockey game and allow Sav to put one in the back of the net for us and send us to the championship game.

Q. Magnus, I was going to ask you about the save there on the 2-on-1, saucer pass coming in. What was that whole play like from your perspective?

MAGNUS CHRONA: From the pre-scout all the two-on-ones we've seen, it was obviously going to be a pass. And I saw it coming kind of early and I prepped myself for just a little quick touch on that. And luckily I was able to make a save to give us a chance. It felt good through the play, for sure.

Q. Carter, last week we talked about your favorite goals that you've scored in your life playing hockey. I'm guessing I know the answer, where does this one rank?

CARTER SAVOIE: It jumped to the top there.

Q. For any of the players, looked like there was a really big group of traveling Pioneers fans right next to your bench. After you got that winning goal what did it mean to look up into the Garden stands and see so many people in red and gold?

RYAN BARROW: I mean, it was unbelievable. I mean, we've had unbelievable support this year. I think our record in Denver, we only lost one game. So just to be able to honor them that way is pretty surreal.

CARTER SAVOIE: I mean, obviously when you have a group that supports you like that, I mean, it means a lot to us as players. It was really cool to see them in the stands tonight and gave us a big jump.

Q. If I could start with you and Carter if you could also respond, seemed like the team really came out physical. Can you talk about how that played into the game plan coming into this game against Michigan?

RYAN BARROW: Yeah, obviously they're incredibly skilled. And kind of all week in practice we worked on angling, taking away time and space, and it led to us finishing some clean hits on them.

CARTER SAVOIE: I mean, there were some big hits in the game. I think it was really good for our group to not take a penalty. I think that was really good for us. Hopefully we can carry that over to Saturday.

Q. Ryan, you just talked about not taking a penalty, but you had three power play chances, didn't convert. Your top line, not getting frustrated and is it just a matter of time before -- I don't know how many shots Carter took, but he buried the one that counted.

RYAN BARROW: That's what he does. He scores big goals, as we all know so far. Yeah, just unbelievable play by that top line to get her done and moving us on to Saturday.

Q. Ryan, the last time that you were here in the Frozen Four you came out on the wrong end of it. How much sweeter is it to be on this side of it compared to the last time you played in the Frozen Four?

RYAN BARROW: Considering I got kicked out seven minutes in -- (laughter) -- this one's a lot better, yeah.

Q. Carter, can you please give us a forensic explanation of what happened in the goal? Bring me through it. What was your physical sensation? What was going through your mind? Maybe you could start with three seconds before it happened, two seconds before it happened. I'm kidding about that. But please go into as much detail as you can.

CARTER SAVOIE: I think they turned the puck over at the top, near the blue line there. I tried passing it down to Bob. Hit a skate. He ended up getting it back. And then obviously that pass Bob made was pretty unbelievable. Right through that guy's legs. Got the first shot. Then got the rebound there.

Q. How did you feel about it, though? What was going through your mind, you had the chance --

CARTER SAVOIE: No words to describe it. Best feeling ever.

Q. Carter, obviously you didn't start the game with Bobby, but you did end it. How big is it to play with him? You guys have had a connection all season long. Talk me through that?

CARTER SAVOIE: Me, Bob and Gutter played together pretty much most of the year. We are comfortable together, know how each other play and we've had some good games together. And our chemistry just continues to grow, I think.

Q. Magnus, if I could come to you. Coming into this game, I think a lot of people were looking at the goalie matchup, just the way you and Erik have performed for your teams. Can you just talk about what some of the conversations were about that and how you were able to play your game and execute your game tonight?

MAGNUS CHRONA: Obviously it's fun to play another Swede. It's probably the second time this year it's happened. It's fun to have some international players here, especially from my own country. And I mean we come from the same kind of goalie group back home, and basically the same system.

But, yeah, it brings an extra fire to compete against him. And I'm fortunate to come out on the positive side. So, yeah, it was extra fun.

Q. David, it's interesting looking at the sheet, because you don't see a lot of the big names for Michigan. And we didn't see Bobby's name on the sheet until the end. Was it a matter of time before he made a play like that? And at any point do you say, hey, big game, overtime, we need you?

COACH CARLE: Yeah, we talked about it at the intermission, the Rizzo line had a goal, the Stapley line had a goal. And we needed the Guttman line to get one. And they came through in the biggest of moments for us to extend our season.

Q. You had the power play advantage in this game. You've been through a lot of these games I'm sure where that happens. Were you just waiting for that call to come on the other side to even things up?

COACH CARLE: Yeah, I didn't get a clean look at it. I saw their bench get upset with one late in the game. But I did think discipline has been an issue of ours throughout the season at times.

And it was the best it's been all year in the biggest moment. Our angling, our moving our feet, keeping our sticks on the ice, not stepping in straight lines and finishing checks was exceptional. And I thought outside of maybe that one questionable non-call, we didn't give the refs any opportunities to make a call on us.

So it's hard to be that difficult to play against without the puck and not take a penalty. So for that I'm really proud of our players.

Q. Just comment on the historical significance of this win and being able to compete for a ninth NCAA championship, what it means for the program.

COACH CARLE: A lot has been made of the symmetries between this team and the '03 and '04 team, being back here in Boston. And there's no doubt about it, when we talk about what we want to do at Denver, it's about winning championships and getting opportunities to hang banners.

And to have this opportunity is very special. To do it against Michigan, who is at 9 and we're at 8, is even sweeter. And hopefully we can tie them and close the gap and reach our goal to getting to 10 first.

Q. Carter Savoie, the man of the hour, what has he meant to this program in his time with the Pioneers and what he brings to this team?

COACH CARLE: He means a lot. He's very well liked by his teammates. Gets along with everybody. Always has a smile on his face. A little bit quieter around the guys, kind of lays back in the weeds a little bit. Socially when they're all kind of razzing each other just kind of sits back and giggles at everyone else, making jokes at one another. And has a great personality.

His game is continuing to develop, and improve to where we can put him out in really big moments. And obviously the goal-scoring, he's been doing that for a really long time. And it's a God-given ability that he has. And he's impacted the program 23 times this year with that.

So that's exciting. But his whole game continues to round out as he becomes a more and more complete player.

Q. A lot of the talk yesterday was about today kind of being a track meet and such. But you did a good job of kind of keeping Michigan at bay. Can you talk about how your team executed defensively?

COACH CARLE: I kind of touched on it a little bit. But our angling, our puck pressure, was really good. And when people did get beat, there was another layer there to help a lot of times. And our sticks were great.

And when that person got beat, Magnus was there to make a save. So it's not easy to contain that team. You probably take 21 shots against in a three-period game let alone a four-period game. Very proud of our team how we took away time and space and made life hard on them.

Q. David, when you think about moving on in this tournament, and the teams that are here, there's so much offense here, how do you approach this to get into the defensive mode? I know you just kind of talked about your angling and that sort of stuff. But the defense became the story tonight in a game that nobody thought we'd have any defense?

COACH CARLE: You don't have a choice if you want to be successful this time of year. You don't see teams win 6-4 in games like this generally. You have to be comfortable in tight, checking games. And for me it was a really exciting hockey game because you saw a lot of talented hockey players commit themselves to playing team defense on both sides.

And it was hard to score goals tonight. All five goals were tight within the house. Some took secondary opportunities. And I thought it was a great playoff hockey game.

Q. Denver doesn't go into many games as an underdog. Did you embrace that? Did you ignore that? What was your approach?

COACH CARLE: I can't tell you that we felt that. And I'm not sure that was the -- I didn't feel internally or externally. I thought it was really everyone built it up to be the 9-8 game and all the offense and the high-end talented players.

And, again, for us, to answer the previous question, it was just about having to take away time and space. And to win this time of year that's what's required.

Q. I thought that the Rizzo line, they got a goal, obviously, but I thought they -- even, like, in the shifts where they weren't necessarily scoring, I thought they did a good job. What do you have to say about them and how they've kind of gelled over the course of the season?

COACH CARLE: I mean, it's been a huge story of our season, as you've covered and the depth of our team, especially up front. I agree with you, I thought the Rizzo line generated a lot of different looks tonight. Might have been our most consistent in the offensive zone. Had some jump, and were making plays off the rush, too.

I love that line. They obviously get rewarded with a big goal. And I thought they maybe could have had even maybe one or two more.

Q. Just wondering, do you use your age as a way to relate to the players? I don't mean it as a joke.

COACH CARLE: Everyone laughed (laughter). No, I don't.

Q. Must have been my delivery.

COACH CARLE: The answer is no.

Q. From your vantage point on the bench, when Michigan overskated that puck on Carter's goal, did that create any separation for you guys? Or what happened in that moment, do you think?

COACH CARLE: I mean, it's obviously a huge moment. And a lot of excitement and words don't describe it.

Q. (Indiscernible) did that create any separation for you guys?

COACH CARLE: Obviously it creates some room, for sure. And Bob makes a play. Sav makes a play down to Bob initially. And, yes, it did.