When Boston University was trailing 2-0 near the end of the first period, things didn't seem very hopeful.
Just 14 seconds after Minnesota scored to take a two-goal lead, Quinn Hutson scored a goal by himself, and the Terriers then controlled the rest of the NCAA Tournament match to win 6-3 and claim the Sioux Falls Regional before a crowd of 6,113 fans at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.
BU (28-9-2), who have won eight out of nine games, are going to the Frozen Four for the 24th time in the history of the program. The Terriers will face the winner of the Michigan-Michigan State game on Sunday in Saint Paul, Minn.
BU also got some payback. In the last season, in a Frozen Four semifinal, Minnesota won 6-2 against the Terriers. The two well-known programs are now tied 13-13-2 in their overall series after BU got its 47th NCAA Tournament victory.
The Terriers showed strong teamwork to beat Minnesota (23-11-5), with goals scored by six different players – Hutson, Lachance, Harvey, Hutson, McCarthy, and Stevens. Star freshman forward Macklin Celebrini, who is expected to be the top pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, provided three assists.
BU’s Mathieu Caron stopped 25 shots to outplay his Minnesota counterpart, Justen Close, who made 32 saves.
Goals by Jaxon Nelson and Bryce Brodzinski in the first period had the Golden Gophers hoping for another Frozen Four berth. But Quinn Hutson’s goal allowed the Terriers to enter the second period trailing by only one goal.
BU was ahead 4-3 after two periods and was in control during the final period. The game also included something rare – neither team received a penalty.
