Vegas Takes Early Lead in 2026 NHL Final

Shayne Gostisbehere (Union) tied the game midway through the third period, but the visiting Vegas Golden Knights got the last goal of the evening to edge the host Carolina Hurricanes, 5-4, last night in Game One of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final in North Carolina.

Carolina took a 2-0 lead just over 12 minutes into regulation on two goals by Nikolaj Ehlers, with Jacob Slavin (Colorado College) picking up an assist on the first goal, and later just missing out on a goal of his own when his shot from in close hit the crossbar. Vegas rebounded to take a 3-2 lead early in the second stanza, with Jack Eichel (Boston University) assisting on the Golden Knights' second goal, before K'Andre Miller (Wisconsin) set up the tying goal for the Hurricanes. 

The teams than traded goals again, with Gostisbehere scoring off a faceoff with just over 11 minutes expired in the third session to make it 4-4, before Tomas Hertl decided matters just over five minutes later on a clean shot from the low slot. The Hurricanes outshot the Golden Knights, 27-23, overall, while the two teams combined to go 0-for-5 on the power play.

It was just the second loss for Carolina in these playoffs, and its second straight loss in a series-opening contest, both coming at home. Game Two is Thursday night in Raleigh.

ADDENDUM: Eric Robinson (Princeton) helped set up a tying goal by Mark Jankowski (Providence) in the third period, and Gostisbehere assisted on both the go-ahead goal and the eventual game-winner in OT as the Hurricanes evened the series with a 4-3 victory in Game Two. Game Three is Saturday night in Nevada,  

 

Canes Push Canadiens to Brink of Elimination

Shayne Gostisbehere (Union) set up two goals, and K'Andre Miller (Wisconsin) and Jackson Blake (North Dakota) also recorded assists as the visiting Carolina Hurricanes blanked the Montreal Canadiens, 4-0, last night in Game Four of their NHL Eastern Conference series. Carolina now leads the best-of-seven series, three games to one.

Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) stopped 39 shots for the Canadiens, who were outshot, 43-18, on the night. Montreal, which will be facing elimination on Friday night in Game Five in North Carolina, is 7-3 on the road so far in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

ADDENDUM: Blake notched a goal and an assist, and Gostisbehere and Eric Robinson (Princeton) also scored as the Hurricanes topped Montreal, 6-1, in Game Five to win the Eastern Conference title. Carolina will now meet Vegas in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, starting Tuesday night in Raleigh.

Princeton Takes One Game Lead on Union

Jake Manfre scored two goals as Princeton University raced out to a four-goal lead en route to a 5-2 win over No. 20 Union College tonight at Hobey Baker Rink. The Tigers now lead the best-of three ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series, one game to none. It was Princeton's first home playoff game since 2018, and fifth consecutive home playoff victory dating back to 2017.

Despite being outshot, 31-24, overall and only winning 32 of 75 total faceoffs. Princeton nevertheless dominated a Union team that had shutout its opposition for over 66 minutes entering the game, and which had also been connecting at nearly 25 percent with a man advantage. The Tigers killed off all six Union power plays on the night, and also limited a Garnet Chargers team that had been averaging over five goals per game since Feb. 1 to just two late scores after the outcome was no longer in doubt.

"They're a tremendous team, with a ton of firepower," said Princeton head coach Ben Syer about Union. "I thought we did a really nice job tonight–but they force you to play honest, and I wasn't comfortable until the final buzzer."

Joshua Karnish opened the scoring for Princeton just over six minutes into the first period, his fourth goal of the season and fourth in as many games. Tyler Rubin and Manfre then scored four minutes apart in the second stanza to put the Tigers up by three, before Manfre notched his second goal of the night and 14th of the season just 23 seconds into the final frame. Princeton captain David Jacobs finished with a game-high two assists.

"It helps to get production from our depth, and they played well," said Syer.

Union's Ethan Benz and Parker Lindauer then sandwiched goals around an empty-net tally by Princeton's Jaxson Ezman over the final five minutes for the final margin.

Princeton goaltender Arthur Smith stopped 29 shots, earning his ninth win of the campaign and the 21st of his college career.

"He was solid, and we needed him to be solid," said Syer.

The Tigers also blocked 20 shots on the night, with Rubin recording a team-high four blocks. 

"We all trust each other," said Smith. "We have lot of seniors on the back end, and when you trust each other to do the job, you do well."

Cameron Korpi had 14 saves on 18 shots for the Garnet Chargers before being relieved early in the third period by Brayden Gillespie (five saves). Union skaters blocked just eight shots in all.

Game Two is Saturday at Baker Rink at 7 p.m. A win would send the Tigers on to the ECAC Hockey semifinals in Lake Placid, while a Union victory would force a deciding Game Three on Sunday at 4 p.m.

"It's a long series, and tomorrow will be a grind," said Syer.

"I think we'll be ready," said Smith. "I don't think we'll carry the win into tomorrow, and we'll approach it the same way." 

ADDENDUM: Manfre continued his scoring streak with another goal, Smith made 32 saves, and Kai Daniells notched a hat trick as Princeton ousted Union with a 5-2 triumph in Game Two. Princeton (17-12-3 overall) moves on to the ECAC semifinals against Cornell, while Union (22-12-3) saw its season come to end.

Panthers Off to 2025 Stanley Cup Final

For the third straight season, the Florida Panthers are the NHL's Eastern Conference champion. The Panthers closed out their most recent best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoff series in five games, by defeating the host Carolina Hurricanes, 5-3, last night in the Eastern Conference final.

Evan Rodrigues (Boston University) scored Florida's second goal, his first of the series after recording six assists over the first three games, to tie matters at two as the Panthers overcame an early 2-0 deficit with three straight second-period goals. Florida native Shayne Gostisbehere (Union) assisted on Carolina's third goal to knot the contest midway through the third period, but Florida tallied the final two goals to put the game and the series to rest.

Florida advances to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final to take on the winner of the Western Conference Final, with Edmonton leading Dallas, three games to one, in that series.

ADDENDUM: Edmonton ousted Dallas in five games to set up a rematch of last year's final, won by Florida in seven games.

Cats Top Canes in Eastern Conference Opener

A.J. Greer (Boston University) notched the game-winning goal in the second period, and the defending NHL champion Florida Panthers routed the host Carolina Hurricanes, 5-2, in tonight's Eastern Conference Final opener. 

Evan Rodrigues (Boston University) picked up an assist on Florida's fourth goal, as the Panthers won for the ninth time this spring in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Carolina's Jackson Blake (North Dakota) scored the game's final goal late in the third period on a power play, assisted by Shayne Gostisbehere (Union).  The Hurricanes outshot the Panthers, 33-20, on the night, but were behind by a goal after 20 minutes and down by three after 40 minutes.

Florida is in its third straight conference final, having won the last two plus last year's Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes have lost 13 straight conference final contests, an NHL record. Game Two is Thursday night in Raleigh.

2025 Stanley Cup Second Round Rolls On

Three second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series have edged closer to completion.

On Monday, the host Carolina Hurricanes topped the Washington Capitals, 5-2, to take a three games to one lead in that Eastern Conference matchup. Carolina's Shayne Gostisbehere (Union) had a goal in that game, assisted by Eric Robinson (Princeton). Jack Roslovic (Miami) later assisted on the game-winning goal.

Also that night out west, the Edmonton Oilers took their own three games to one lead with a 3-0 shutout of the visiting Vegas Golden Knights. Zach Hyman (Michigan) assisted on Edmonton's second goal, and now has five assists and eight points through 10 playoff games so far this spring.

Last night, Jake Oettinger (Boston University) made 31 saves to lead the host Dallas Stars to a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets, extending the Stars' Western Conference series advantage to three games to one. Kyle Connor (Michigan) assisted on Winnipeg's lone goal.

Edmonton will try to wrap up its series tonight, while Washington and Dallas will attempt to do the same tomorrow. Florida plays at Toronto tonight, seeking to take a three games to two lead in that affair. 

ADDENDUM: Defending champion Florida routed Toronto, 6-1, to move one win away from advancing. Nate Schmidt (Minnesota) had two assists for the Panthers. 

Bennett Hired as Quinnipiac Assistant

Former NCAA champion Rick Bennett (Providence) is back in college hockey and in ECAC Hockey. Bennett, 57, has been hired as an assistant coach at Quinnipiac University.

Bennett, who led Union College to the 2014 NCAA championship, the first in school history, compiled a 195-134-45 record in nine-plus seasons in charge of the Dutchmen, including six seasons of 20 or more wins, before resigning in early 2022. He also guided Union to eight ECAC Hockey regular-season or postseason titles in his tenure in Schenectady. He spent the past two season coaching the ECHL's expansion Savannah Ghost Pirates, where he fashioned an overall 58-68-0 regular-season record. 

A native of Springfield, Mass., and a 1990 graduate of Providence College where he recorded 50 goals and 134 points in 128 outings at forward for the Friars, Bennett played nine years professionally in the NHL, AHL, IHL and ECHL, and actually began his coaching career as a player-assistant coach in the ECHL in 1995-96. After four seasons he returned to the college ranks at his alma mater as an assistant coach for five seasons, before moving on to Union in 2005. He then served as an assistant for two years with the Dutchmen, and as associate coach for five campaigns more before taking the head coaching reins in 2011. 

Former NCAA Players on Move in NHL

A number of former NCAA players were on the move with the beginning of NHL free agency on July 1 (players listed alphabetically by last name, not a complete list):

Player, Position (School) New Club Old Club

Zach Aston-Reese, F (Northeastern) Vegas Detroit

Cam Atkinson, F (Boston College) Tampa Bay Philadelphia

Brandon Biro, F (Penn State) Buffalo Seattle

Ian Cole, D (Notre Dame)                Utah            Vancouver

Devin Colley, G (Denver) Calgary San Jose

Jeremy Davies, D (Northeastern) Ottawa Buffalo

Collin Delia, G (Merrimack) Edmonton Winnipeg

Casey DeSmith, G (New Hampshire) Dallas Vancouver

Sheldon Dries, F (Western Michigan) Vancouver Detroit

Josh Dunne, F (Clarkson) Columbus Buffalo

Casey Fitzgerald, D (Boston College) NY Rangers Florida

Warren Foegele, F (New Hampshire) Los Angeles Edmonton

Adam Gaudette, F (Northeastern) Ottawa St. Louis

Dennis Gilbert, D (Notre Dame) Buffalo Calgary

Shayne Gostisbehere (Union)             Carolina        Detroit

Troy Grosenick, G (Union) Nashville Minnesota

Matt Grzelcyk, D (Boston University) Pittsburgh Boston

Danton Heinen, F (Denver) Vancouver Boston

Cameron Hughes, F (Wisconsin) Dallas Seattle

Tyson Jost, F (North Dakota) Vegas Buffalo

Cole Koepke, F (Minnesota-Duluth) Tampa Bay Boston

Tanner Laczynski, F (Ohio State) Vegas Philadelphia

Alec Martinez, D (Miami) Chicago Vegas

Ben Meyers, F (Minnesota) Seattle Anaheim

Tyler Motte, F (Michigan) Detroit Tampa Bay

Jordan Oesterle, D (Western Michigan) Boston Calgary

Jack Rathbone, D (Harvard) Buffalo Pittsburgh 

Eric Robinson, F (Princeton) Carolina Buffalo

Steven Santini, D (Boston College) Tampa Bay Los Angeles

Kiefer Sherwood, F (Miami) Vancouver Nashville

Devin Shore, F (Maine) Minnesota Seattle

Nate Schmidt, D (Minnesota) Florida Winnipeg

Joe Snively, F (Yale) Detroit Washington

Anthony Stolarz, G (Omaha) Toronto Florida

Billy Sweezey, D (Yale) Boston Columbus

Cam Talbot, G (Alabama-Huntsville) Detroit Los Angeles

Jason Zucker, F (Denver)                Buffalo         Nashville

Bears Bounce Back to Tie Calder Cup Final

The 2024 Calder Cup Final will not be a sweep.

Two days after falling short in a 4-3 loss in the series opener on Friday, the Hershey Bears rebounded with a 5-2 win over the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The best-of-seven series, which shifts to California for the next three games, is now tied, one to one.

Mike Vecchione (Union) set up two goals for the Bears on Sunday, while Hunter Shepard (Minnesota-Duluth) stopped 32 of 34 shots against before 10,507 spectators at Hershey's Giant Center. Shepard was named first star of the game, while Vecchione was third star.

Game Three is slated for Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms, Cal., tonight at 10 p.m. ET. 

ADDENDUM: Coachella Valley took a two to one lead in the Calder Cup Final with a 6-2 victory over Hershey in Game Three. Max McCormick (Ohio State) scored three goals for the Firebirds, who outshot the Bears, 42-24. Coachella Valley will host Game Four on Thursday evening.

Bears, Firebirds Tied up in AHL Final

Mike Vecchione (Union) scored two goals, and also helped set up the game-winner by Ethen Frank (Western Michigan) as the Hershey Bears defeated the Coachella Valley Firebirds, 3-2, on Thursday night in Game Four of the 2023 Calder Cup Final at Giant Center in Hershey, Pa. The best-of-seven AHL championship series is now knotted at two games apiece, with the home team having won each of the four previous contests. 

A member of Union's 2014 NCAA championship team, Vecchione scored Hershey's first two goals, the first on a power play to open the game, and the second one breaking a 1-1 tie early in the second period. Frank, who tallied 30 goals during the 2022-23 AHL regular season, then connected late in the middle stanza for the game-winner for Hershey, the primary affiliate of the NHL's Washington Capitals. The Bears are seeking their 12th Calder Cup overall, and first since claiming back-to-back crowns in 2009 and 2010. Hunter Sheppard (Minnesota-Duluth), who won consecutive NCAA titles in 2018 and 2019 with UMD, stopped 21 shots to earn the win in goal for Hershey.

Austin Poganski (North Dakota) scored the first goal for the AHL Western Conference champion Firebirds, who are in their inaugural season, and are the affiliate of the NHL's Seattle Kraken. Joey Daccord (Arizona State) made 25 stops in defeat for Coachella Valley.

Game Five is tonight in Hershey at 8 p.m. ET, while Game Six will be contested at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Ca. on Monday at 10 p.m. ET. Both games will be televised on NHL Network.

ADDENDUM: Hershey took Game Five in overtime, 1-0, while Coachella Valley rallied for a 5-2 victory in Game Six. The deciding Game Seven will be contested on Wednesday, June 21, at 10 p.m. ET at Acrisure Arena, with the winner claiming the Calder Cup.

Mayotte Takes Over at Colorado College

 

Colorado College has a new head coach in former NCAA goaltender and assistant coach Kris Mayotte.

A press conference was held Monday in Colorado Springs to introduce Mayotte as the 15th head coach in the long history of the Tigers, after he spent the last two years as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan.

Mayotte, 38, began his coaching career as an assistant at St. Lawrence University from 2012 to 2014. He then joined Providence College for the next five seasons, the last one as an associate coach, and was part of the Friars' 2015 NCAA title team before he headed to Michigan in 2019.

Following two years in junior hockey with Cleveland (NAHL) and Sioux City (USHL), after backstopping Central Catholic High School in his native Pittsburgh, Mayotte played four years for Union College (2002-2006). He compiled a record of 46-52-13 over 116 appearances with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage for the Dutchmen, and ranks second all-time in Union hockey's NCAA Division I annals in wins (46), shutouts (10) and saves (2,977). As a senior in 2005-06, he went 16-15-5 with a career-best 2.33 GAA and .918 save percentage, along with a personal-high five shutouts. 

After his graduation from Union, Mayotte played professionally in the AHL, CHL and ECHL for five seasons before retiring following the 2009-10 campaign. He takes over a Colorado College club that finished 4-17-2 in the NCHC last season, and which last made the NCAA tournament in 2011.

Devils Top Kings, 6-3

The New Jersey Devils snapped a six-game losing streak that stretched back to just after Thanksgiving with a 6-3 win at Los Angeles on Thursday night in NHL action.

Leading the way against the host Kings were former NCAA players Kyle Palmieri (Notre Dame), who scored twice for the Devils, and Travis Zajac (North Dakota), Will Butcher (Denver) and Blake Coleman (Miami), who notched single tallies. Zajac and Butcher also recorded assists as the Devils won for the first time since Nov. 21. Keith Kinkaid (Union) made 29 saves in net for New Jersey, which improved to 10-12-5 overall.

New Jersey will continue its western swing on Sunday night at Anaheim.

Devils Roll in 2018-19 Opener

Kyle Palmieri (Notre Dame) and Travis Zajac (North Dakota) scored two goals apiece as the New Jersey Devils opened their 2018-19 NHL campaign with a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers at the 2018 NHL Global Series in Gothenburg, Sweden on Saturday.

Miles Wood (Boston College) set up two goals for the Devils, who got 17 saves from Keith Kinkaid (Union). Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) made 22 stops for Edmonton. The victory marked New Jersey’s third win in its last five season openers, and also makes the Devils  21-9-6 overall in season-opening contests.

U.S. Claims Bronze at 2018 World Championship

The United States earned its second bronze medal in four years at the IIHF World Championship with a 4-1 victory over Canada on Sunday in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Chris Kreider (Boston College) of the New York Rangers scored two goals for the Americans, including the game-opening goal in the second period, while Nick Bonino (Boston University) of the Nashville Predators tallied the game-winning goal with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation to break a 1-1 tie. Anders Lee (Notre Dame) of the New York Islanders then scored an insurance goal into an empty Canadian net for the U.S., followed by one from Kreider.

Keith Kincaid (Union) of the New Jersey Devils made 24 stops to garner the victory for Team USA, which earned bronze for the third time in the last six World Championships, and for the eighth time overall.

Sweden, which defeated Canada in a shootout in last year's World Championship gold medal game in Germany, won it all again today in a shootout. The Swedes bested Switzerland this time, by a 3-2 count, to claim their second straight World Championship title, and 11th overall.

Next year's tournament will be held in May 2019 in Slovakia.

Sweden, Switzerland to Play for IIHF Gold in Denmark

It'll be Switzerland against defending champion Sweden on Sunday for the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Denmark.

In Saturday's semifinals, Switzerland edged Canada, 3-2, while Sweden blitzed the United States, 6-0, despite 41 shots on goal by the Americans. Colton Paryako (Alaska Fairbanks) of the St. Louis Blues scored Canada's second goal, late in the third period. Keith Kinkaid (Union) of the New Jersey Devils took the loss for the U.S., making 14 saves as Sweden also scored two empty-net goals.

In the quarterfinal round, Sweden edged Latvia, Canada outlasted Russia, Switzerland upset Finland, and the U.S. topped the Czech Republic, all one-goal decisions.

The U.S. and Canada will play for the bronze medal tomorrow afternoon before Sweden and Switzerland meet for gold.

Union Tops Tigers, 4-1, on Princeton Senior/ECAC Remembrance Night

On a night when Princeton University honored its outgoing seniors along with members of two of its former league champion squads, Union College spoiled the party with a 4-1 victory before 2,271 onlookers at Hobey Baker Rink.

Union (20-13-1 overall, 15-5-0 ECAC Hockey) started off with a goal in-close that was credited to Liam Morgan nine minutes into the game. The Dutchmen were also outshooting the Tigers by a 15-3 margin with six minutes left in the first period, and made it a 2-0 game when Ryan Walker scored off a scramble in front of the Princeton net with 2:46 left.

The Dutchmen increased their advantage just 2:41 into the second stanza when Jack Adams followed up own rebound to give the Dutchmen a 3-0 lead. Just under six minutes later, the Tigers responded when Ryan Kuffner curled out to the left point with the puck, then wristed it home to the far side to put Princeton (12-12-3, 9-10-1) on the board with his 23rd goal this year, and fourth of the weekend.

As snow fell steadily outside Baker Rink, the third period saw no penalties committed by either team, a time-out called by Princeton in the final two minutes of play, and then an empty-net goal by Union's Brett Supinski with 35 seconds remaining in regulation to close out the scoring. Union outshot Princeton, 43-29, on the evening, as Jake Kupsky made 28 stops for the Dutchmen. Ryan Ferland had 39 saves for the Tigers.

Princeton celebrated the eight seniors on this year's roster on Saturday, and also honored members of the 1998 and 2008 Tiger teams that won their respective ECAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Princeton and NHL alumni George Parros and Kevin Westgarth, who were members of separate Stanley Cup championship teams, dropped pucks for the ceremonial opening face-off.

Devils Top Flyers, 4-3

In the end, it was Union College outdueling Yale University in a meeting of former ECAC/NCAA netminders.

The New Jersey Devils edged the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3, on Thursday night in Newark, as Keith Kinkaid (Union) made 25 saves for the home team. Alex Lyon (Yale), making his first-ever NHL start, had 18 stops for the Flyers in the loss.

Ben Lovejoy (Dartmouth) assisted on Nico Hischier's game-winning goal in the third period to break a 3-3 tie. Kyle Palmieri (Notre Dame) scored New Jersey's first goal of the game on a power play, and also added an assist. Drew Stafford (North Dakota) also scored for the Devils, while Travis Zajac (North Dakota) earned nine minutes in penalties, including a first-period fight where he got the better of Philadelphia's Radko Gudas.

Shayne Gostisbehere (Union) tallied a goal and an assist for the Flyers.

Former ECAC Players Sign with NHL Teams

A pair of former Eastern College Athletic Conference hockey players inked NHL contracts this week, one of them a heralded rookie and the other a young veteran.

Union College forward Spencer Foo signed as a free agent with the Calgary Flames after spending the last three seasons in Schenectady. According to the Flames website, the contract will be finalized and made official on July 1. Foo, 23, tallied career highs of 26 goals and 36 assists for 62 points in 38 games this past year, while leading the Dutchmen to both the ECAC regular-season crown and their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2014.

The Edmonton native tied with teammate Mike Vecchione for the ECAC scoring lead, with 44 points in 25 conference games, and likewise was a fellow Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist. In 113 career outings at Union, Foo registered 49-63—112 points.

Former Princeton University netminder Mike Condon re-upped with the Ottawa Senators after spending most of last season in Canada’s capital. According to NHL.com, the deal is for $7.2 million for three years. The Holliston, Mass. native, who began last season with Pittsburgh before being traded to Ottawa in November, finished 19-14-6 in 40 games with the Senators. He also recorded a 2.50 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage to go with a career-high five shutouts.

In 96 career NHL games with Montreal, Pittsburgh and Ottawa, Condon, 27, has fashioned a 40-39-12 record with six shutouts. He went 18-22-8 with three shutouts in 53 NCAA appearances at Princeton from 2009 and 2013.

Hobey Baker Award Finalists Revealed

The Hobey Hat Trick has been announced.

The three finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in NCAA Division I men’s college hockey are Northeastern University senior forward Zach Aston-Reese, University of Denver senior defenseman Will Butcher, and Union College senior forward Mike Vecchione.

Aston-Reese, who recently signed a professional contract and has been playing with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), finished the 2016-17 NCAA campaign with 31 goals and 32 assists for a career-high 63 points in 38 games. The Staten Island, N.Y. native is tied with Vecchione as the leading scorer in the nation.

Butcher, the only Hobey Baker finalist still skating in college this season, and the only NHL draft choice of the trio, is pacing all Pioneers' blueliners with 7-29—36 points through 41 outings. The Sun Prairie, Wis. native will complete his collegiate career at the NCAA Frozen Four in Chicago on April 6-8, with Denver slated to face Notre Dame in the second semifinal game, following Harvard against Minnesota-Duluth. Butcher was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the fifth round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Vecchione, the all-time leading scorer in Union's Division I hockey history, was a contributing member of the Dutchmen’s 2014 NCAA championship squad. The Saugus, Mass. product led all Union skaters this season with individual career scoring highs of 29-34—63 points in 38 appearances, and led all ECAC players with 20-24—44 points in 25 league games. Undrafted, he recently signed with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The 2017 Hobey Baker winner will be announced on April 7 in Chicago.

Minnesota-Duluth, Harvard Headed to Frozen Four

Half the NCAA Men’s Division I Hockey Frozen Four picture is set following six games on Saturday, with the other two spots to be determined on Sunday.

Minnesota-Duluth became the first team to punch its ticket to Chicago in two weeks’ time with a 3-2 overtime victory over Boston University in the West Regional final at in Fargo, N.D. Adam Johnson scored on the power play just 1:57 into the extra session for the top-seeded Bulldogs, who also got 22 stops from Hunter Miska and will proceed to their first Frozen Four since 2011.  

UMD’s opponent in Illinois will be Harvard, which advanced to its first Frozen Four since 1994 by outlasting Air Force, 3-2, in the East Regional final in Providence. Tyler Moy’s second-period power-play goal gave Harvard a 3-0 lead and stood up as the game-winner, as the Falcons responded shortly afterwards with two goals in 15 seconds. Merrick Madsen finished with 27 saves for the Crimson, including a point-blank save on a rebound shot by Matt Serratore with 14 seconds remaining in regulation to preserve the win.

Top overall seed Denver raced out to a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes and never looked back in besting Michigan Tech, 5-2, in a Midwest Regional semifinal in Cincinnati. Colin Staub scored twice for the Pioneers, who connected twice on the power play and also got 16 stops from Tanner Jaillet.

In the late game in Cincinnati, Penn State and Union traded field goals until the Nittany Lions got the touchdown, scoring seven straight times over the last two periods of play en route to a 10-3 victory in their first-ever NCAA Tournament contest. Nate Sucese led Penn State with two goals and two assists, while Andrew Sturtz, Chase Berger and Kris Myllari posted three points apiece. It was the most goals scored by one team in an NCAA Tournament game in 27 years, since Lake Superior State beat Alaska Anchorage by the same score in 1990.

Ryan Lohnin scored two goals and Ryan Collins had two assists as UMass Lowell blanked Cornell, 5-0, in the early Northeast Regional semifinal in Manchester, N.H. Tyler Wall had 19 saves for the River Hawks, who advanced to the regional final on Sunday to take on fellow Hockey East school Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish scored three unanswered goals, the last two by Anders Bjork, to oust top seed Minnesota, 3-2, marking the 12th year in a row that that an NCAA Division I men's hockey No. 1 regional seed was eliminated in the regional round.

UMass Lowell and Notre Dame will face off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday at the SNHU Arena, while Denver will face Penn State in the Midwest Regional final at 6 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Arena. Both games will be televised live on ESPNU. The winners of those two regionals will meet in Chicago on April 6.