Author: Chris Eckes

Fargo, ND – It’s an age-old tradition that the referees “swallow the whistle” in the 3rd period and overtime, in an effort to not influence the outcome of the game too much.

In Minnesota’s opening NCAA match, it was that lack of calls that factored in the UMass overtime victory.

Immediately after a blatant trip on a rushing Ryan Chesley, UMass turned the puck back up the ice and scored on the ensuing rush, moving on to the regional final and burying the Minnesota Gophers in a weird, wild, ultimately infuriating 5-4 game.

Minneapolis, MN – The good news: the Gophers will carry a high seed into the NCAA tournament.

The bad news: they may now carry some additional baggage with them.

After a letdown Friday and an exhilarating third period comeback Saturday, the Minnesota Gophers (25-10-4 Overall (1-4 OT)) put forth a disappointing effort Sunday to lose to last place Notre Dame (12-24-1 (2-2)) by a 4-1 score to crash out of the Big Ten playoffs.

Minneapolis, MN – Seeking his 600th career coaching victory, Jeff Jackson’s last-place Notre Dame squad needed a lot to go their way to steal a game against the Big Ten co-champion Gophers.

State College, PA – The final regular season series of the 24-25 season did not lack for drama, with Penn State winning an overtime thriller Friday night to move onto the good side of the Pairwise bubble and deny Minnesota a chance to win the Big Ten title outright.

State College, PA – Needing at least an overtime win to control their destiny heading into the final day of the Big Ten regular season, Minnesota came up agonizingly short once again in the extra session.

Minneapolis, MN – The Kurth-Clark-Wood line is back, and better than ever.

The trio, which was red-hot early in the year before being split up in The Great Injury Blight in the middle of the year, combined for three goals (Kurth 2, Wood 1) and seven points to lead the Minnesota Gophers (23-7-4 Overall (1-3 OT), 13-3-1-5 B1G) to a 6-3 Saturday victory and series sweep over the visiting Ohio State Buckeyes (20-10-2 (3-1), 11-6-2-3).

The win (and 6 weekend points) moves Minnesota into first place in the Big Ten after a 5-point Penn State weekend over Michigan State.

Minneapolis, MN – Behind two Brody Lamb goals and 25 saves from newly-minted #1 goalie Liam Souliere, the #3 Minnesota Gophers (22-7-4 Overall (1-3 OT), 12-3-1-5 B1G) beat the #6 Ohio State Buckeyes (20-9-2 (2-2), 11-5-2-3) in a defensive struggle that ultimately resulted in a 4-1 Minnesota win.