Watch CBS News

DU Bounced From Frozen Four Following 4-1 Loss To Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Tom Parisi broke a tie on a power play with 5:01 left and Providence beat Denver 4-1 on Sunday night in the NCAA East Regional final to advance to the Frozen Four.

Providence (23-13-3) will face the winner of the Midwest Regional final between Nebraska-Omaha and Rochester Institute of Technology on April 9 in Boston. Boston University will play North Dakota in the other semifinal.

The game turned late in the third period after Denver's Joey LaLeggia was handed a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for contact to the head.

Parisi's snap shot from the left point beat Tanner Jaillet.

"Our power play struggled at times this year and our power-play won us a game tonight," Providence coach Nate Leaman said after guiding the Friars to their first Frozen Four appearance since 1985.

Denver coach Jim Montgomery expressed his displeasure over the penalty on LaLeggia.

"I don't how to coach any differently than our players always attacking," Montgomery said. "It cost us a 5-minute major but I don't know. I guess you're supposed to back off and let a guy attack you instead of angling the puck like I've taught them.

"Joey LaLeggia did everything I asked of him on that play but unfortunately it was head-hunting. By the rule if the contact is to the head, that's the rule."

Leaman credited goalie Jon Gillies with playing a key role in a scoreless first period.

"I thought we struggled finding our legs just like we did (Saturday) in the first period," Leaman said. "Jonny held us in and really got us through the first period. I knew Jonny had to be our best player and he was our best player.

"He got us through those tough times."

Gillies finished with 23 saves.

Providence's Noel Acciari opened the scoring on a power play with 5:38 left in the second period, stuffing a backhander past Jaillet off a pass from Shane Luke.

Denver (24-14-2) tied it at 7:52 of the third on LaLeggia's power-play goal. LaLeggia's shot hit the glass and the puck ricocheted in off Gillies' back.

Denver made a bid for a short-handed goal only to have Evan Janssen hit the left post.

Leaman then called a timeout, shortly before Parisi scored his winner.

"I thought we had to relax," Leaman said. "We were pressing a little. You have to remember to relax and execute."

Brandon Tanev and Kevin Rooney added empty-net goals for the Friars in the last 1:32.

The victory erased a painful memory the Friars experienced when they were defeated by Union in the 2013 quarterfinals.

"We remembered the feeling we had that year against Union," Gillies said. "We didn't want to experience that again."

- By MIKE SCANDURA, Associated Press

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.