TAMPA, Fla. — The University of Minnesota got here into Thursday’s Frozen Four semifinal recreation towards Boston University with one of the vital potent offenses within the nation geared up with a primary line loaded with high NHL draft picks.
On the facility play, they’re even higher.
Behind three power-play targets and a cussed protection, the Golden Gophers skated to a 6-2 win over BU at Amalie Arena.
Minnesota senior goalie Justen Close made 27 saves as Minnesota earned a spot in Saturday’s nationwide championship recreation towards the University of Michigan and Quinnipiac winner.
“We were tied in the third period, but we stuck with it,” mentioned Minnesota coach Bob Motzko. “We had our chances (in the third period) and we finished this thing.”
The Terriers ended a memorable first yr beneath new head coach Jay Pandolfo with a 29-11 report in a season that included a Hockey East championship and the looks within the Frozen Four. Pandolfo, who grew up in Burlington, gained a nationwide title as a participant for BU in 1995 and went on to win two Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils in 2000 and 2003.
“Give them credit, they’re a heck of a hockey team.” Pandolfo mentioned of Minnesota. “You can’t give a team like that seven power plays. That’s not winning hockey for us. We have to learn from it. It’s disappointing. This senior class is a huge reason why we got back to this point, but (this tournament) is really hard to win and I didn’t think we gave ourselves a great chance.”
BU took a 1-0 at 10:38 when senior Sam Stevens slid house the rebound of a shot by senior Domenick Fensore. Senior Jamie Armstrong additionally earned an help on the play.
Minnesota freshman Logan Cooley, drafted third general by Arizona in 2022, was whistled for a penalty simply 1:11 later, however the Gophers killed that energy play by the Terriers and went on an influence play of their very own at 13:49.
At 15:09, Minnesota tied the rating when junior defenseman Mike Koster snapped house a wrist shot, ending a move from Cooley. Senior Jaxon Nelson was additionally credited with an help.
Minnesota went on the facility play once more at 15:51 and this time wanted simply eight seconds to take its first lead on a lovely aim that sophomore Rhett Pitlick completed out entrance. The tally was arrange by consecutive passes that went from Koster to freshmen defenseman Luke Mittelstadt to sophomore ahead Aaron Huglen, who fed Pitlick for the aim previous Terrier junior goalie Drew Commesso.
“They were all over us in the first period,” Pandolfo mentioned. “But then I thought we found our game in the second.”
BU tied the rating at 8:06 of the second with a power-play aim when senior Jay O’Brien scored with assists to Fensore and senior Matt Brown. Senior Wilmer Skoog successfully screened Close because the Terriers tied the sport at 2-2.
Minnesota had an enormous alternative to regain the lead late within the second interval when BU’s Lane Hutson was known as for a penalty with 2:05 left after which sophomore Ty Gallagher went to the penalty field with one minute left, leaving BU down two males.
The trio of Stevens, Fensore and junior defenseman Cade Webber helped kill the 5-on-3 benefit, however not with out some controversy. With 43 seconds left within the interval, a shot by Gopher senior Bryce Brodzinski was stopped on the aim line by the glove of Commesso. The play was reviewed for a number of minutes earlier than recreation officers dominated it no aim.
As time expired within the second interval, Webber was known as for charging, giving Minnesota one other two-man benefit for the primary 60 seconds of the third interval.
While BU killed off the primary half of the facility play, the Gophers clicked at 1:40 with their third power-play aim of evening to go forward to remain. Mittelstadt scored for Minnesota, assisted by Brodzinski and Koster.
At 3:29, Minnesota pushed the result in 4-2 when Mittelstadt blasted house a slap shot assisted by freshman Ryan Chesley and Huglen. The Gophers added two empty-net targets by Cooley, one with 2:41 to go and the opposite within the closing moments to complete the scoring.
After the sport, Pandolfo centered on his gamers.
“I’m so proud of them,” he mentioned. “They made my job easy this year and it’s been a pleasure working with them every day. At the end of the year it was a player-led team and that’s what we wanted. I’m going to miss these guys.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com