University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 25
Worcester, MA
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
25-12-0
4
vs
3
Massachusetts
22-13-2
1
2
3
OT 1
F
Massachusetts
2
1
0
0
3
Minnesota
1
1
1
1
4
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Win 4-3 Overtime Thriller in NCAA Opener
3/25/2022 9:57:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Hobey Baker Award finalist Ben Meyers scored the game winner in overtime for Minnesota.
WORCESTER, Mass. – Hobey Baker Award finalist Ben Meyers completed the rally with the overtime winner for the No. 5/6 Gopher men's hockey program as Minnesota beat No. 10/9 Massachusetts 4-3 in overtime on Friday night in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.Â
The Gophers (25-12-0) will now face Western Michigan on Sunday, March 27 at 3:00 p.m. CT at the DCU Center with a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four on the line.Â
In his 100th career game, Meyers capped off three-straight goals for the Maroon & Gold with the deciding tally in the added session. The Big Ten Player of the Year pocketed his 17th goal of the year at 8:31 of overtime and was one of three Gophers to tally multiple points in the win – Meyers (one goal, one assist), Matthew Knies (one goal, one assist) and Jaxon Nelson (two assists). Meyers also extended his point streak to seven games (tied for his career long) and now has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in six games since returning from the Olympics.Â
UMass (22-13-2) jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period with strikes from Reed Lebster and Garrett Wait before Ryan Johnson got the Gophers on the board with his third of the year at 18:02 of the opening stanza. Lebster scored his second of the night early in the second, but Tristan Broz started the final rally for Minnesota with his sixth of the year at 17:09 of the second.Â
Knies notched the equalizer for the Gophers at 13:17 of the third period on a Minnesota power play for his 13th of the year.
Justen Close improved to 13-4-0 on the year with 20 saves against the Minutemen while Matt Murray also made 20 in the loss. Minnesota held a 24-23 advantage on shots.Â
Coach's Comments
"I felt we grew in the game and I'm really proud of our group because we battled tonight," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "The only way you beat UMass is to match their grit. We've got to learn to win games like that. We're growing as a team."
Noteworthy
Minnesota made its 39th NCAA tournament appearance (tied for the most in college hockey) and earned its 57th NCAA tournament win (most in college hockey, 57-39)…the Gophers improved to 5-0-0 all-time against Massachusetts in the first meeting between the programs in the NCAA tournament…the Gophers improved to 3-1-0 in overtime games this year. Â
Next Up: NCAA Regional Final
Minnesota and Western Michigan will take the ice on Sunday, March 27 at 3:00 p.m. CT in the regional final at the DCU Center in Worcester (TV: ESPN2; Stream: ESPN.com/ESPN App/TSN.ca/TSN App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM).Â
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The Gophers (25-12-0) will now face Western Michigan on Sunday, March 27 at 3:00 p.m. CT at the DCU Center with a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four on the line.Â
In his 100th career game, Meyers capped off three-straight goals for the Maroon & Gold with the deciding tally in the added session. The Big Ten Player of the Year pocketed his 17th goal of the year at 8:31 of overtime and was one of three Gophers to tally multiple points in the win – Meyers (one goal, one assist), Matthew Knies (one goal, one assist) and Jaxon Nelson (two assists). Meyers also extended his point streak to seven games (tied for his career long) and now has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in six games since returning from the Olympics.Â
UMass (22-13-2) jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period with strikes from Reed Lebster and Garrett Wait before Ryan Johnson got the Gophers on the board with his third of the year at 18:02 of the opening stanza. Lebster scored his second of the night early in the second, but Tristan Broz started the final rally for Minnesota with his sixth of the year at 17:09 of the second.Â
Knies notched the equalizer for the Gophers at 13:17 of the third period on a Minnesota power play for his 13th of the year.
Justen Close improved to 13-4-0 on the year with 20 saves against the Minutemen while Matt Murray also made 20 in the loss. Minnesota held a 24-23 advantage on shots.Â
Coach's Comments
"I felt we grew in the game and I'm really proud of our group because we battled tonight," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "The only way you beat UMass is to match their grit. We've got to learn to win games like that. We're growing as a team."
Noteworthy
Minnesota made its 39th NCAA tournament appearance (tied for the most in college hockey) and earned its 57th NCAA tournament win (most in college hockey, 57-39)…the Gophers improved to 5-0-0 all-time against Massachusetts in the first meeting between the programs in the NCAA tournament…the Gophers improved to 3-1-0 in overtime games this year. Â
Next Up: NCAA Regional Final
Minnesota and Western Michigan will take the ice on Sunday, March 27 at 3:00 p.m. CT in the regional final at the DCU Center in Worcester (TV: ESPN2; Stream: ESPN.com/ESPN App/TSN.ca/TSN App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM).Â
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Team Stats
UMA
MIN
Shots
23
24
PPG
1
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
2
1
Penalty Mins
4
2
Faceoffs Won
36
36
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
4
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
2
+/-
-1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's HockeyDefense
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's HockeyForward
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