The University of Minnesota-Duluth scored a goal in each period on Saturday night, including a late one with less than three minutes left just after a Massachusetts powerplay ended to seal a 3-0 Bulldogs win in the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey national title game played at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. It is the second straight title for UMD in their third straight appearance in the final game.
UMass (31-10) couldn’t solve the UMD defense or their goaltender Hunter Shepard, and were held to just 18 shots on goal. Parker Mackay opened the scoring with a powerplay goal at 3:51 of the first period. The score remained the same until the 15:48 point of the second when Mikey Anderson doubled the Bulldogs lead to 2-0. Late in the third just 20 seconds after a powerplay opportunity expired, Jackson Cates jumped on a loose puck to the right of UMass goalie Filip Lindberg, and whistled a wrist shot that beat the Minutemen netminder five hole at 17:18 to seal the win.
UMass went 0-4 on the powerplay, including 0-2 in the final 20 minutes when trying to work their way back into the game. Lindberg made 28 saves in the loss. UMD went 1-4 with the extra man, with the one goal coming on what proved to be the game winner on the first period marker by MacKay. Shepard made 18 saves, with very few grade A chances by the Minutemen. Minnesota-Duluth finishes with an overall record of 29-11-2. The Bulldogs graduate three players, including MacKay and may be back for yet another title run next season. UMass also only graduates three players, with sophomore defenseman and Hobey Baker winner Cale Makar pro career uncertain at this point. The Minuteman were appearing in their first ever Frozen Four and national championship game.
