AMHERST, Mass. (AP) – For the second straight postseason, Denver’s Gabe Gauthier has been the best player on the ice when the Pioneers needed him the most.

Gauthier, whose game-winner lifted Denver past Maine in the 2004 national championship game, had a hat trick Sunday to lead the Pioneers to a 4-2 win over New Hampshire in the NCAA Northeast Regional final and their second straight Frozen Four.

Ryan Dingle scored the game-winning goal at 16:17 of the third period and Gauthier added an empty-net goal late for Denver. He had six points in the Pioneers’ two tourney wins and was named most outstanding player of the regional.

Denver coach George Gwozdecky said Gauthier relishes the opportunity to be a difference maker in Denver’s biggest games. The Pioneers rely heavily on Gauthier, a center, not only on offense but on defense, where they usually have him mark the opponent’s top scoring threat.

On the decisive goal, Wildcats freshman goaltender Kevin Regan stopped two shots, but he didn’t smother the puck, and Dingle took advantage by poking it in.

Daniel Winnik, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime in New Hampshire’s opening-round win over Harvard on Saturday, was awarded a penalty shot after Matt Carle hooked him on a breakaway. He converted, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 lead at13:27 of the second period.

But Denver answered on the power play in the second.

on Gauthier’s second goal of the game.

Denver outshot New Hampshire 16-2 to open play, and jumped ahead 1-0 on a Gauthier goal 13:42 into the first period. But the Wildcats pulled even just 54 seconds later as Jacob Micflicker flipped a loose puck in front of the Denver net past Peter Mannion.

Mannion stopped 29 shots for the Pioneers. Regan made 40 saves for UNH.