University of Minnesota Athletics
Boston College Halts Gophers' Postseason Run
3/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota’s remarkable postseason run finally came to an end on Saturday in the NCAA Northeast Regional semifinals as the Gophers fell 5-2 to Boston College in Worcester, Mass.
The Gophers’ previous six postseason games had all been decided by one goal, including four overtime games. They end the season with a 19-17-9 overall record after making their eighth straight trip to the NCAA tournament. Boston College, which is now 22-11-8 overall and was the national runner-up the past two seasons, advances to face Miami (Ohio) in the regional title game on Sunday with a berth in the Frozen Four at stake.
It is the first time Minnesota has allowed more than two goals in any of its postseason games and only the second time in 30 starts this season that Gophers’ freshman goaltender Alex Kangas has allowed four goals in a game. The defeat was Minnesota’s largest margin of defeat in an NCAA game since a 7-4 setback to Michigan in 1997. It was only the fourth time the Gophers have lost their NCAA opener in their last 15 appearances.
Boston College controlled the first period and had three power plays early in the game, finally scoring on its third attempt with a four-on-three goal by Ben Smith. Nathan Gerbe took a shot that was saved by Kangas. The puck bounced out to a defenseman, but the clearing attempt went straight to the stick of Smith, who buried his 22nd goal of the year at the 6:33 mark.
The Eagles also had a five-on-three power play in the first three minutes of the game that lasted 63 seconds, but they were unable to convert. Minnesota, which has not allowed a goal in the first four minutes of a game this season, was seriously threatened, but Kangas made eight saves on Boston College’s first period power plays. Boston College owned just a 15-10 advantage in shots for the period, but attempted 28 shots to Minnesota’s 14.
The Gophers picked up their play in the second period and tied the game at the 3:01 mark as Mike Howe backhanded in a rebound. Derek Peltier and David Fischer assisted the play.
Boston College regained the lead less than five minutes later with a two-on-one breakaway as defenseman Joe Whitney picked up his 40th assist of the season in setting up Benn Ferriero for a goal at the 7:58 mark. Tim Filangieri started the break for the Eagles to earn an assist.
Minnesota had a 14-8 advantage in shots in the second period and had several quality chances, including a shot off the pipe by Blake Wheeler in the closing minutes of the period.
The Eagles extended the advantage to 3-1 in the third period when Pat Gannon scored at 4:25 of the period. Matt Greene had the puck in the corner and centered a pass to Gannon in the slot for the goal. Matt Price also assisted the play.
Boston College made it a three-goal advantage at 11:14 of the third as Whitney fired a shot from the slot that deflected off a Gophers’ defender past Kangas for an unassisted score.
Minnesota gained a power play with 3:26 and pulled Kangas for an extra attacker before scoring its second goal in bizarre fashion. Shortly into the power play, Ben Gordon ripped a shot that sent the goal light on, but was ruled no goal. The next stoppage of play didn’t occur until 45 seconds left in the game when Carl Sneep scored an apparent empty net goal. However, video replay confirmed Gordon’s goal and gave Minnesota new life for the final minutes. Oddly, the clock was incorrectly reset to 3:27, which allowed the Gophers even a few additional seconds for the comeback. The goal was assisted by Howe and Blake Wheeler.
After several close calls, Gerbe, the nation’s leading scorer, finally ended the game with an empty-netter with 16.2 seconds remaining. Each team had nine shots in the third period with Minnesota owning a 33-32 advantage for the game, getting four of its shots with the extra attacker. Minnesota was one-for-four on the power play with two shots, while Boston College was one-for-four on the power play with nine shots.
Kangas finished the season with single-season school records 1.98 goals against average and .930 save percentage.
