NCAA men’s hockey regional Day 1 recap: Springfield, Sioux Falls finalists set

The NCAA men’s Hockey Tournament finally got underway on Thursday, with a couple of exciting outcomes in the Springfield and Sioux Falls regionals.

Let’s break everything down:

Springfield Regional

Denver survives double-overtime battle

The best offense in the NCAA was limited mightily by a UMass team that barely squeaked into the national tournament. But in the end, Denver managed to hold on for the 2-1 victory, winning the game in double overtime.

It looked like Denver was going to run through UMass in the tournament’s opening game, outshooting the Minutement, 10-5, in the first period. However, UMass reminder Michael Hrabal held his own, despite the Pioneers finally breaking through with a goal from Boston Buckberger in early in period two.

However, that was when the game turned.

Spurred on by its “home” crowd, UMass ended up creating loads of chances in the DU zone, leading to Princeton transfer tying the game with just a few minutes to go in the middle stanza.

Neither side could find the winner in the third period, sending the game into overtime. Both teams had good looks to end the game in the first overtime, but a second extra frame was necessary.

After several chances, the Pioneers finally got it done, as Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Tristan Broz’s goal with just minutes left in the period gave Denver the win.

Matt Davis, who was banged up early in the second overtime, hung on to make 46 saves in the win, a new career high for the junior netminder.

DU will play for a spot in the Frozen Four for the first time since they won it all two years ago.

Mack attack helps Cornell

While they did not generate a lot of chances, Cornell’s defense, along with a couple of goals from an unheralded character, helped them take down Maine, 3-1.

Maine looked like they were going to take control of the game. Harrison Scott put the Black Bears out in front with his 15th goal of the season just a few minutes. Then, Boston Bruins draft pick Ryan Walsh was handed a five-minute major penalty, giving Maine a great chance to extend the lead.

However, Cornell killed off the penalty, with Kyle Penney tying the game before the end of the first. Though the Black Bears outshot the Big Red in the second period, a goal from Sullivan Mack in the latter half of the period gave Cornell a one-goal lead heading into the third.

The Big Red did their part in holding Maine at bay in the final period of play, with Mack adding his second goal for some insurance following the halfway mark of the frame. Cornell was able to hold the Black Bears to just eight shots on goal in the final 20 minutes to pick up the win.

Ian Shane, the Ken Dryden Award winner for best goaltender in the ECAC, stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced.

The Big Red are one win away from advancing to the Frozen Four for the first time in 21 years.

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Sioux Falls Regional

Celebrini leads BU to comfortable win

While it was a rather stirring start, the Boston Terriers used their big guns, along with some depth, to beat RIT, 6-3.

RIT provided an early scare with a couple of early chances, but the Terriers settled into the game and finally broke through with a pretty play by top prospect Macklin Celebrini that led to a goal by Montreal Canadiens’ draft pick Lane Hutson past the halfway mark of the period. A little over two minutes later, sophomore Ryan Greene made it 2-0 BU.

However, RIT hung around thanks to goals from a couple of veterans. Fifth-year forwards Elijah Gonsalves and Gianfranco Cassaro helped the Tigers get within by the late stages of the second period, but a gorgeous play by Dylan Peterson and Nick Zabaneh led to Celebrini giving Boston University a 4-2 lead at the end of two periods.

The Terriers never let RIT back in the game, as Jack Harvey and Peterson blew the game open, as a Cody Laskosky goal for the Tigers was too little, too late.

Celebrini and Peterson ended up with a goal and an assist each, while Devin Kaplan and Tom Willander each had two assists in the victory.

BU will be looking to advance to the Frozen Four for the 24th time in program history.

Nelson’s two goals carry Minnesota to victory

The Golden Gophers took on a pesky Omaha Mavericks team in their semifinal, and a veteran presence helped spurn a comeback to give Minnesota a 3-2 win.

The Mavericks came out swinging, with a goal from Joaquim Lemay giving the NCHC the early lead. Minnesota answered back with a goal from Minnesota Wild draft pick Jimmy Clark to send the game into the second period tied at one.

Though both teams created many opportunities in the middle stanza, with the Gophers outshooting Omaha by a 22-16 margin, the game was still 1-1 heading into the third. That was when junior Ty Mueller gave Omaha its second lead of the night just a few minutes in.

However, Minnesota captain Jaxon Nelson scored back-to-back goals to put the Gophers out in front, giving the fifth-year senior 18 goals on the year.

Omaha tried everything to tie the game in the final seconds, but Justin Close made numerous clutch saves to seal the victory. The graduate student made 34 saves in the game.

Minnesota now seeks a Frozen Four berth for the third consecutive season.

Three Stars

1. Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (2024 NHL Draft): The odds-on choice to be selected first overall. With his 32nd goal of the season against RIT, he passed former NHLer Craig Simpson for most goals by and under-18 player in NCAA history.

2. Sullivan Mack, F, Cornell University: For a Big Red team that does not have a lot of star power, all hands would have to be on deck in order to win on Thursday. Mack, who had scored just five goals heading into the tournament, came up clutch against Maine on Thursday.

3. Jaxon Nelson, F, University of Minnesota: When big names like Jimmy Snuggerud and Rhett Pitlick went quiet against Omaha, the fifth-year senior came up with two big goals to help the Gophers rally in the third period on Thursday.

For the full schedule and bracket, go to NCAA.com