Top-seeded Minnesota will attempt to win its first national title in two decades and deny second-seeded Quinnipiac its first in school history when the teams meet in the final of the NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament on Saturday in Tampa, Fla.
The Golden Gophers (29-9-1) defeated Boston University 6-2 to open the Frozen Four on Thursday before the Bobcats (33-4-3) knocked off third-seeded Michigan 5-2 in the nightcap.
Minnesota, which will play in the final for the first time since falling to Union in 2014, is seeking its first national championship since winning back-to-back titles in 2002-03.
Quinnipiac last played in the championship game in 2016, when it fell to North Dakota.
The Golden Gophers and Bobcats used third-period surges to break open their respective semifinals that were each tied 2-2 after two periods.
For Minnesota, freshman Luke Mittelstadt’s two goals in a span of 1:49 early in the final period gave the Golden Gophers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Logan Cooley had two empty-net goals and an assist, while Mike Koster had a goal and an assist for Minnesota. Rhett Pitlick also scored for the Golden Gophers, with Aaron Huglen collecting two assists.
“Our guys stuck with it,” Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said.
“Luke Mittelstadt is a heck of a player. We got our chances, and we finished.'”
Meanwhile, Quinnipiac’s Jacob Quillan scored twice and assisted on Sam Lipkin’s decisive third-period goal as the Bobcats scored three times in the final period against the Wolverines.
Zach Metsa and Ethan de Jong also scored, Collin Graf and Cristophe Tellier had two assists apiece and Lipkin added one for the Bobcats.
Quinnipiac scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal when Quillan got the puck to Graf, whose shot was stopped by Michigan goalie Erik Portillo. But the puck bounced behind the goal where it was corralled by Lipkin, who drilled a shot off the back of Portillo’s skate that trickled across the goal line with 18:36 remaining.
“Quinnipiac culture was on full display tonight,” Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold said. “They were just outstanding.”
The Golden Gophers and Bobcats meet after statistically dominant regular seasons.
Minnesota’s 4.21 goals per game ranked second nationally behind Michigan’s 4.22, with Quinnipiac third at 3.95.
The Bobcats, however, were first in the country with 1.54 goals against per game, as goalie Yaniv Perets’ 1.46 goals-against average led the country. Minnesota was sixth at 2.24 goals against per game, with goalie Justen Close’s 1.99 GAA ranking fourth nationally.
The Golden Gophers finished with two players in the top five nationally in points per game. Cooley ranked third at 1.54 with 20 goals and 37 assists in 37 games, and Jimmy Snuggerud’s 1.32 (21 goals, 29 assists in 38 games) is fifth.
For Quinnipiac, Graf’s 1.44 points per game via 20 goals and 36 assists in 39 games rank fourth nationally. Lipkin ranks 23rd, averaging 1.05 points per game with 13 goals and 26 assists in 37 games.
–Field Level Media