Minnesota, North Dakota Win Conference Titles

 

Two games, two offensive explosions in roughly two minutes each, and two tournament championships won on Tuesday night.

Minnesota defeated Wisconsin, 6-4, for the Big Ten title in South Bend, Ind., as the Golden Gophers broke open a 2-1 game with three unanswered goals in a span of 2:42 late in the second period. After Wisconsin closed to within 5-4 with three third-period goals, including Cole Caufield's nation-leading 28th score of the season to bring the Badgers within one, fourth-ranked Minnesota (23-6-0 overall) sealed the deal on an empty-net goal by Blake McLaughlin with 24 seconds remaining in regulation. McLaughlin led all skaters with two goals and two assists on the evening, while Roman Ahcan scored twice for No. 5 Wisconsin (20-9-1).

In Grand Forks, N.D., host North Dakota claimed its first-ever NCHC playoff championship by outlasting St. Cloud State, 5-3. After SCSU (17-10-0) took a 2-1 lead into the locker rooms after 40 minutes of play, the Fighting Hawks notched three goals in just 1:58 to start the third period en route to the victory. Riese Gaber's power-play goal just over five minutes into the final frame stood up as the game-winner, before Jordan Kawaguchi iced matters with his empty-net tally with nine seconds left. Gaber and Kawaguchi finished with two goals and an assist apiece for No. 2 UND (21-5-1), while Ondřej Trejbal set up two goals for the Huskies, including Sam Hentges' score that pulled No. 8 SCSU within 4-3 with just under 13 minutes left.

Both Minnesota and North Dakota, former rivals in the old WCHA, earned their respective current conference's automatic berth to this year's NCAA tournament. The NCAA selection show and the 2021 bracket will be revealed on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.