PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Fourth-line junior forward Grant Arnold is not your typical captain, and the University of Denver is not the same program that went 1-7 in its previous seven NCAA Tournaments. The marginally talented, huge-hearted Arnold and second-year coach Jim Montgomery have the determined Pioneers on their best NCAA Tournament run in 10 years.
Behind Arnold’s two goals — his first two of the season — the Pioneers beat Boston College 5-2 on Saturday in an East Regional semifinal to come within one victory of its first Frozen Four berth since winning back-to-back NCAA championships in 2005.
Arnold, who was cut from his bantam double-A team in Centennial at age 14, struck twice in the third period to alleviate the pressure-packed environment at Dunkin Donuts Center. Arnold gave the Pioneers 4-1 and 5-2 leads after scoring just three times in 113 previous college games.
PHOTOS: DU Pioneers vs. Boston College Eagles March 28, 2015
“It’s a special moment for me and our team,” Arnold said. “One of our goals was to be the team to break that (1-7) streak. We knew we had it in this locker room to do it and it was just a matter of executing the plan.”
DU never trailed and avenged its 6-2 loss to BC at last year’s Northeast Regional in Worcester, Mass. Senior defenseman Joey LaLeggia (power play), sophomore wing Trevor Moore and sophomore defenseman Will Butcher also scored. Freshman goalie Tanner Jaillet made 22 saves to improve to 15-7.
“I was a bit nervous, obviously, but excited at the same time,” Jaillet said. “I was confident too, because we have a good team.”
The shot that led to BC’s first goal nicked off Arnold, tying it 1-1 late in the first period. Moore struck in the last minute of the period as DU retook the lead, and Butcher’s goal at 8:05 of the third period made it 3-1 and served as the game-winner.
“Our effort and determination were awesome,” Montgomery said. “I didn’t think we made as many plays as we usually do, but that’s part of nerves. Four our seniors or juniors, this is their third or fourth time (in the NCAA Tournament) and they haven’t had any success. So I think we’ll be even better (Sunday).”
Second-seeded Denver (24-13-2) will play No. 1 Miami (Ohio) or No. 4 Providence in Sunday’s regional championship (3 p.m. MDT, ESPN2). The winner will advance to the April 9-11 Frozen Four at Boston’s TD Garden, where DU won the 2004 NCAA title.
“We had good chances to get to 2-2 but Denver played well and they deserve to go on,” BC coach Jerry York said. “Just a good, solid team.”
Arnold capped a great play by his blue-collar Mash Line to make it 4-1, a cushion that helped ease the stress of BC’s ensuing power-play goal by Ryan Fitzgerald, the son of former Avalanche forward and Pittsburgh Penguins assistant general manager Tom Fitzgerald.
Arnold scored an empty-net goal with 1:13 remaining to rebuild the three-goal lead.
“For me personally, to get those two goals is a great feeling,” Arnold said. “I’ve worked real hard all year and to put something in the net at this point of the year is great. Playoffs is a new season. That’s what I’ve always thought and it really doesn’t really matter what you did in the regular season.”
Denver executed its game plan from the opening faceoff, when the Mash Line — which includes seniors Matt Tabrum and Larkin Jacobson — opened against BC’s top line of center Adam Gilmour and wingers Alex Tuch and Zach Sanford, each NHL draft picks. The Mash Line opposed the future NHLers every shift beginning with every faceoff to start each period.
“Great team win, just a great effort by everybody. Great job by Monty to get us prepared in the right way,” said LaLeggia, the 2014 All-American and Hobey Baker Award finalist. “We came in with more confidence than I’ve ever seen in my four years. We’re going to have a short memory and get ready for (Sunday).”
DU struck on its second power play, with LaLeggia’s wicked wrist shot beating sophomore goalie Thatcher Demko. BC tied it 1-1 at 16:51 of the first period. Defenseman Michael Matheson’s slap shot skimmed off Arnold and sailed beside Jaillet’s left ear. But Denver responded in the final minute of the period, and Moore’s shot from the goal line caromed in off Demko’s pads.
Denver outshot BC 14-6 in the first period but the Eagles were much better in the second, although no goals were scored. The Pioneers owned the third and snapped an 0-4 NCAA Tournament skid and won for the first time since beating Western Michigan 3-2 in overtime in 2011.
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or Twitter: @MikeChambers
