NCAA Men’s Hockey Capsule: UMD stuns Providence, Michigan advances
There will be a new champion in the college hockey world in 2016. Providence’s double overtime loss to Minnesota-Duluth was the highlight of a busy day of action, as the 2016 NCAA Division I men’s hockey tournament kicked off with games in the Midwest and Northeast Regionals.
Northeast Regional: Minnesota-Duluth 2, Providence 1 (2OT)
In what was the only upset of the day, the Bulldogs knocked off last year’s champs thanks to Karson Kuhlman’s winner 57 seconds into the second overtime period.
The Bulldogs dominated the day’s possession battle, firing a Northeast Regional record 56 shots on Nick Ellis. At the other end, Kasimir Kaskisuo turned away 36 shots.
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Providence, who earned the No. 4 seed, was trying to become the first team to repeat as champs since Denver did so in 2004-05.
The scoring didn’t get started until late into the game, as both teams lit the lamp in the third period. UMD’s Tony Cameranesi started things at 3:18 into the third period with a slap shot from the boards that Ellis reacted late on.
Four minutes later, the Friars’ Steven McParland scored when he snuck behind UMD’s defense on a 2-on-2 chance.
After a silent first overtime where both teams traded chances, Kulhman cashed in on a rebound chance at the doorstep to send UMD to Saturday’s Northeast Regional Final against Boston College.
Northeast Regional: Boston College 4, Harvard 1
In the battle for Boston, it was the Eagles who came out on top.
Boston College beat Harvard, 4–1, thanks to Alex Tuch and Austin Cangelosi two-goal games. Tuch started the evening with a goal eight minutes into the first period.
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Then, Cangelosi found the back of the net on the power play to give the Eagles a 2–0 lead into the second period.
Tuch again scored the opening goal in the second period.
After Harvard’s Seb Lloyd scored about nine minutes in the period, the scoring remained silent.
Cangelosi lit the lamp in the third period.
In the win, goalie Thatcher Demko recorded 32 saves.
Midwest Regional: Michigan 3, Notre Dame 2 (OT)
In a matchup between future Big Ten opponents, the Wolverines moved on to Saturday’s Midwest Regional final with thanks to the hands of the “CCM line.”
Tyler Motte scored after some nifty passing from JT Compher and Kyle Connor, setting him up with a wide open net with roughly 11:40 to play in the first overtime.
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Michigan, the No. 2 seed in the Midwest, will try for its first Frozen Four berth since 2011, in what could be head coach Red Berenson’s final year.
The Wolverines opened the scoring thanks to Justin Selman’s goal midway through the first period. Then the Fighting Irish answered roughly five minutes later thanks to Anders Bjork, who had a snipe over Michigan goalie Steve Racine’s shoulder.
The Irish found the back of the net in the second period when Thomas DiPauli’s quick snapshot from the slot that Racine appeared to be blinded on.
Notre Dame carried its lead into the third period before Zach Werenski tied it at 9:52, scoring from the high circle.
It was Motte’s goal in overtime that sent the Wolverines into Saturday’s Midwest Regional Final at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Midwest Regional: North Dakota 6, Northeastern 2
The first game of the day was North Dakota rolling Northeastern, proving it had earned the No. 3 seed with reason.
While the Huskies started the day’s scoring from Nolan Stevens, North Dakota riffled five straight goals, including three in the first period.
All of North Dakota’s goals came from different scorers. Three members recorded multi-point days with Brock Boeser tallying three, one goal and two assists. Nick Schmaltz and Keaton Thompson both had two assists.
North Dakota’s Cam Johnson turned away 24 shots on Friday.
North Dakota and Michigan will meet at 6 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule
Midwest Regional Final
No. 1 North Dakota vs. No. 2 Michigan - 6 p.m.
Northeast Regional Final
No. 2 Boston College vs. No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth - 9 p.m.
East Regional
No. 1 Quinnipiac vs. No 4 RIT - 4 p.m.
No. 2 UMass Lowell vs. No. 3 Yale - 7:30 p.m.
West Regional
No. 1 St. Cloud State vs. No. 4 Ferris State - 3 p.m.
No. 2 Denver vs. No. 3 Boston U. - 6:30 p.m.