Wild Tie Series With Dallas

Matt Boldy (Boston College) tipped home a shot in the final minute of overtime to give the Minnesota Wild a 3-2 win over the visiting Dallas Stars last night in their first-round 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff series. The best-of-seven NHL Western Conference matchup is now tied at two games apiece.

Brock Faber (Minnesota) scored the Wild's first goal, and also assisted on the tying goal late in regulation along with Nico Sturm (Clarkson). Jake Oettinger (Boston University) made 40 saves in goal for Dallas. Game Five is Tuesday night in Texas.

 

Hughes, Faber, Knies Sign with NHL Clubs

The exodus of NCAA hockey underclassmen to the NHL continues.

Luke Hughes (Michigan) signed an entry-level contact with the New Jersey Devils last week after Michigan was eliminated by Quinnipiac in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals on Thursday. The 19-year-old defenseman from Canton, Mich. leaves Michigan having tallied 27 goals and 60 assists for 87 points in 80 career games over the last two years. A first-team All-America choice this season as a sophomore, he led the Wolverines to two Big Ten Tournament titles and two Frozen Four appearances, and was drafted fourth overall by New Jersey in 2021.

Brock Faber (Minnesota) left college hockey after three seasons by signing with the Minnesota Wild shortly after the Golden Gophers fell to Quinnipiac in overtime in the NCAA title game on Saturday. A 20-year-old defenseman from Maple Grove, Minn., who was drafted 45th overall in 2020, Faber notched 7-46—53 points in 97 career outings with the Golden Gophers. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year the last two seasons in helping Minnesota to two Frozen Fours, earned 2022-23 First Team All-America accolades, and also represented the United States at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China.

Also signing recently was sophomore Matthew Knies (Minnesota), who inked an entry-level deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Drafted 57th overall in 2021, the 20-year-old forward from Phoenix, Az. collected 36-39—75 points in 73 career appeaances with the Golden Gophers, and along with linemate Logan Cooley was a top-three finalist this season for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's top player. Knies was also named the Big Ten Player of the Year and a First Team All-American this season, and was a 2022 U.S Olympian.

Hughes and Faber are both products of the U.S. National Team Development program in Plymouth, Mich., while Knies played junior hockey with Tri-City (USHL). All three skaters are expected to make their NHL debuts this week as the league's regular season concludes, with the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs beginning next Monday.

ADDENDUM: Hughes made his pro debut in New Jersey's 6-2 win over visiting Buffalo on April 11. Two nights later, he tallied his first NHL goal/point, scoring the game-winner in overtime to lift the Devils to a 5-4 victory at Washington. Faber went scoreless in his first two games with the Wild, while Knies had one assist over his first three appearances with Toronto.

Day Two of 2021 NCAA Tournament Done

The second day of the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Championship is done, with two regionals completed and two more to go.

Bridgeport, CT Regional

Massachusetts 4, Bemidji State 0

St. Lawrence transfer Carson Gicewicz recorded his first collegiate hat trick, on three goals spanning the first two periods of play, as the Hockey East champion Minutemen punched their ticket to their second straight Frozen Four.

Fargo, ND Regional

Minnesota-Duluth 3, North Dakota 2 (5 OT)

Luke Mylymok, son of former Alaska Anchorage defenseman Jeremy Mylymok, notched the game-winner for UMD 2:13 into the fifth extra session to end the NCAA tournament's longest-ever game and send the two-time defending national champion Bulldogs to their fourth consecutive Frozen Four. Ryan Fanti picked up the win in net, making six saves over the last 17 minutes of overtime after he relieved Zach Stejskal (57 saves) after the latter left the game due to cramps.

Albany, NY Regional

St. Cloud State 6, Boston University 2

The Huskies scored three times in each of the last two periods, including a penalty-shot goal by Jami Krannila, while Nolan Walker posted three assists. SCSU will now meet Boston College in the regional final on Sunday (5:30 p.m., ESPN2). 

Loveland, CO Regional

Minnesota State 4, Quinnipiac 3 (OT)

The Mavericks tallied two goals twice in the last five minutes of the third period, then won it on Ryan Sandelin's overtime goal for their first-ever victory in the NCAA tournament. 

Minnesota 7, Omaha 2

The Golden Gophers raced out to a 3-0 first-period lead and cruised to their first NCAA tournament victory since 2014.  Brock Faber set up five goals for Minnesota, which will meet MSU on Sunday in the regional final (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2).