Toronto Tops Florida in Series Opener

Matthew Knies (Minnesota) scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal with six minutes remaining in regulation, and Joseph Woll (Boston College) made 17 saves in relief to earn the win in the host Toronto Maple Leafs' 5-4 victory over the defending NHL champion Florida Panthers last night. The Leafs now lead the best-of-seven second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series, one game to none.

Woll came in midway through the contest after starter Anthony Stolarz (Omaha), who had played every minute of the playoffs so far for the Maple Leafs, left with an injury and possible concussion after stopping eight of nine Florida shots. His return for Game Two in Toronto is questionable.

Max Pacioretty (Michigan) assisted on two goals as the Leafs took a 4-1 lead halfway through regulation. Nate Schmidt (Minnesota) assisted on Florida's third goal, which pulled the Panthers to within 4-3 at the time, before Knies, who also registered an assist on the night, finished off a partial breakaway less than 10 minutes later. 

Shots on goal were 29-29 overall, while Florida went 1-for-3 on the power play and Toronto finished 0-for-5. The Maple Leafs won the faceoff battle (36-24), and also blocked more shots (24-11).

NCAA Alums on Move at 2025 NHL Trade Deadline

A number of former NCAA players were on the move before Friday's NHL trading deadline, as listed by last name (per Sportsnet.ca and hockeydb.com), for transactions occurring since March 1:

Player, Position (School) New Team Old Team

Brendan Brisson, F (Michigan) NY Rangers Vegas

Dennis Cholowski, D (St. Cloud) New Jersey NY Islanders

Charlie Coyle, F (Boston University) Colorado Boston

Vincent Desharnais, D (Providence) San Jose Pittsburgh

Brian Dumoulin, D (Boston College) New Jersey Anaheim

Michael Eyssimont, F (St. Cloud) Seattle Tampa Bay

Trent Frederic, F (Wisconsin) New Jersey      Edmonton

Dennis Gilbert, D (Notre Dame) Ottawa Buffalo

Patrick Giles, F (Boston College) San Jose Florida

Jonathan Gruden, F (Miami) New Jersey Pittsburgh

Mark Jankowski, F (Providence) Carolina Nashville

Erik Johnson, D (Minnesota) Colorado Philadelphia

Spencer Knight, G (Boston College) Chicago Florida

Luke Kunin, F (Wisconsin) Columbus San Jose

Ryan Lindgren, D (Minnesota) Colorado NY Rangers

Tyler Madden, F (Northeastern) Minnesota Los Angeles

Marc McLaughlin, F (Boston College) New Jersey Boston

Casey Mittelstadt, F (Minnesota) Boston Colorado

Brock Nelson, F (North Dakota) Colorado NY Islanders

Josh Norris, F (Michigan) Ottawa Buffalo

Thomas Novak, F (Minnesota) Pittsburgh Nashville

Gustav Nyquist, F (Maine) Minnesota Nashville

Craig Smith, F (Wisconsin) Detroit Chicago

Reilly Smith, F (Miami) Vegas NY Rangers

Carson Soucy, D (Minnesota-Duluth) NY Rangers Vancouver

Nico Sturm, F (Clarkson) Florida San Jose

Brandon Tanev, F (Providence) Winnipeg Seattle

Jimmy Vesey, F (Harvard) Colorado NY Rangers

Jake Walman, D (Providence) Edmonton San Jose

Vegas Up Two Games in Stanley Cup Final

Jack Eichel (Boston University) set up two goals and Alec Martinez (Miami) scored another as the Vegas Golden Knights routed the visiting Florida Panthers, 7-2, last night to take a two games to none lead in the best-of-seven 2023 Stanley Cup Final.

Eichel assisted on Vegas' first and fifth goals, while Martinez notched the second goal of the game for the Golden Knights, who have outscored the Panthers, 12-4, though the first two games of the series. Eichel is also tied for second among NHL skaters this postseason with 22 points in 19 games, and has recorded four assists so far in the final.

Game Three is Thursday night in Sunrise, Fla. Both clubs are seeking the first-ever Stanley Cup in their respective franchise's history.

2023 Frozen Four Begins Today in Florida

The 2023 NCAA Men's Division I Frozen Four from Florida is finally upon us.

Today's first game pits Boston University against Minnesota at 5 p.m. ET. The two schools have a long head-to-head history in the NCAA tournament, with Minnesota winning the most recent matchup in 2012. Both schools have five national titles to their credit. BU (29-10 overall) won both the Hockey East regular-season and tournament titles this season, while Minnesota (28-9-1) was Big Ten regular-season champ for the second straight season.

The nightcap will feature Quinnipiac against Michigan, at around 8:30 p.m. ET, a rematch of last year's Allentown Reginal final that was won by nine-time NCAA champion Michigan. ECAC regular-season champion Quinnipiac (32-4-3) has earned the last three ECAC Hockey regular-season titles but is still seeking its first national crown, while Michigan (26-11-3) has claimed two consecutive Big Ten tournament titles. 

Today's winners advance to the national title game on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. All three games will be played at Amalie Arena in Tampa, home of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning, and will be televised live on ESPN2.

This is the third time the Frozen Four will be held in Tampa. Boston College won the first NCAA title contested there in 2012, followed by North Dakota in 2016.

Clemmensen Earns First NHL Playoff Win

It took a long time—11 years to be exact—but goaltender Scott Clemmensen finally has his first career Stanley Cup playoff victory.

Clemmensen came on in relief of Jose Theodore on Tuesday night, and stopped all 19 shots he faced to lift the visiting Florida Panthers to a  4-3 win over his old NHL team, the New Jersey Devils, at the Prudential Center in Newark.  The Devils took a 3-0 lead just 6:16 into the contest, before Clemmensen came on to blank the host team for the final 43:44 for the win and a 2-1 series lead for the Panthers.

It was his first NHL playoff game since 2006 when he relived former Devils teammate Martin Brodeur in a loss to Carolina, and just his second NHL playoff appearance ever.

A shot by Devils defenseman Marius Zidlicky did go in off Clemmensen, 34, late in the second period last night—but officials ruled that the goalie had been interfered with by Devils forward Steve Bernier, and the tying goal was negated. Clemmensen is now 5-0 all-time against New Jersey,. whom he skated for from 2001-2007, and also in 2008-09.

Drafted in the eighth round by New Jersey in 1997, Clemmensen played four years at Boston College, winning 99 games and recording 13 shutouts. He went 30-7-2 as a senior at BC in 2000-01, and backstopped the Eagles to their first national championship since 1952 with a 3-2 overtime win over North Dakota in the NCAA title game in Albany.

Clemmensen, a 6'3", 205-pound native of Des Moines, Iowa,  is now in his 10th NHL season. Besides the Panthers and Devils, he has also played with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and owns a career regular-season NHL record of 64-45-20 with a 2.64 goals-against average and seven shutouts. His best NHL season came in 2008-09 with New Jersey, when he went 25-13-1 in 40 outings with a 2.39 GAA and two shutouts, and helped the Devils qualify for the postseason as Brodeur was sidelined long-term with a biceps injury.

Clemmensen went 14-6-6 with a 2.57 GAA and one whitewash with Florida in 2011-12, including a 3-1 win at New Jersey on Feb. 11. Game Four of the best-of-seven series is tomorrow night in Newark.

2011 Holiday Tournament Champions Crowned

Back to business this weekend for most schools, but here are the winners of the 2011 D-I men's holiday tournaments that recently wrapped up...

Catamount Cup: RIT
Florida College Classic: Maine
Great Lakes Invitational: Michigan
Ledyard Bank Tournament: St. Lawrence
Mariucci Classic: Northeastern
UConn Hockey Classic: Mass-Lowell