University of Minnesota Athletics
Monday, March 15
Notre Dame, IN
7:30 PM
University of Minnesota
22-6-0
3
vs
2
Michigan (Semifinal)
15-10-1
1
2
3
OT 1
F
Michigan
1
1
0
0
2
Minnesota
0
0
2
1
3
Photo by: Mike Miller/B1G Ten Hockey
Walker Sends ‘U’ to B1G Title Game with OT Winner
3/15/2021 11:39:00 PM | Men's Hockey
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Another postseason game, another third period rally and overtime winner for Minnesota.
For the second night in a row, the No. 4 Gopher men's hockey program erased a third period deficit before scoring the deciding goal in the added session – this time coming back from two goals down in the third to earn a 3-2 overtime win over No. 7 Michigan and punching the program's ticket to its first Big Ten championship game since 2016.
Team captain Sammy Walker completed the comeback for the Maroon & Gold with his 13th goal of the season 6:00 into overtime with a rebound attempt that beat Strauss Mann. Ben Brinkman and Scott Reedy set up the game-winning goal as Minnesota improved to 2-0-0 in overtime games this season following Sunday's 2-1 quarterfinal win over Michigan State.
And the hero in that game helped send Monday's semifinal to overtime as Sampo Ranta stayed red hot for the Gophers, pocketing the equalizer at 15:34 of the third period. The junior now leads Minnesota with 18 goals and 28 points while Ranta has points in seven of the last eight games. With a goal in back-to-back games, he also moved into a tie for second in the nation in goal scoring. Jaxon Nelson, who set up last night's overtime winner from Ranta, was there again tonight with a helper along with Ryan Johnson.
Nathan Burke started the rally with his fourth of the year at 4:07 of the third period following a feed from Jack Perbix, who set a new career high with his eighth point of the season.
Michigan (15-10-1) jumped out to a two-goal lead with a power-play goal from Kent Johnson at 3:44 of the first period before adding to the lead at 14:38 of the second period with a tally from Garrett Van Wyhe.
Jack LaFontaine (20-6-0) once again bested his former team as the senior alternate captain made a season-high 35 saves on 37 shots for his NCAA-leading 20th win. The Hobey Baker Award candidate and Mike Richter Award and Senior CLASS Award finalist has now allowed two goals or fewer in 26 of his last 30 starts. LaFontaine improved to 4-1-0 this year against Michigan and is now 4-0-0 on the year at Compton Family Ice Arena. Mann took the loss for Michigan to fall to 11-9-1 on the year.
Minnesota held a 40-37 advantage on shots in the victory.
Quotes from Coach
"Give our guys a lot of credit – they stuck with it being down by two and had a terrific third period to get back in it," Minnesota Head Coach Bob Motzko said. "And Sammy Walker – your best players have to come through in big games, and I thought he was outstanding tonight."
Noteworthy
The Gophers improved to 9-7-0 all-time in the Big Ten tournament…. since the start of the 2000-01 season, Minnesota is 14-1-0 against Michigan when both teams are ranked in the top-10…Ben Brinkman and Blake McLaughlin have both now played in 100 career games with the Maroon & Gold.
Up Next: Big Ten Title with a Border Battle Flair
Minnesota punched its ticket to its third Big Ten title game and first since 2016 with a Border Battle showdown against Wisconsin set for Tuesday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM). The championship game will mark the first-ever meeting between the Gophers and the Badgers in the Big Ten tournament as Minnesota will now have played every team in the league in the conference postseason.
For the second night in a row, the No. 4 Gopher men's hockey program erased a third period deficit before scoring the deciding goal in the added session – this time coming back from two goals down in the third to earn a 3-2 overtime win over No. 7 Michigan and punching the program's ticket to its first Big Ten championship game since 2016.
Team captain Sammy Walker completed the comeback for the Maroon & Gold with his 13th goal of the season 6:00 into overtime with a rebound attempt that beat Strauss Mann. Ben Brinkman and Scott Reedy set up the game-winning goal as Minnesota improved to 2-0-0 in overtime games this season following Sunday's 2-1 quarterfinal win over Michigan State.
WE'RE GOING TO THE 'SHIP!!!! pic.twitter.com/LY61Vtp8wQ
— Minnesota Men's Hockey (@GopherHockey) March 16, 2021
And the hero in that game helped send Monday's semifinal to overtime as Sampo Ranta stayed red hot for the Gophers, pocketing the equalizer at 15:34 of the third period. The junior now leads Minnesota with 18 goals and 28 points while Ranta has points in seven of the last eight games. With a goal in back-to-back games, he also moved into a tie for second in the nation in goal scoring. Jaxon Nelson, who set up last night's overtime winner from Ranta, was there again tonight with a helper along with Ryan Johnson.
Nathan Burke started the rally with his fourth of the year at 4:07 of the third period following a feed from Jack Perbix, who set a new career high with his eighth point of the season.
Michigan (15-10-1) jumped out to a two-goal lead with a power-play goal from Kent Johnson at 3:44 of the first period before adding to the lead at 14:38 of the second period with a tally from Garrett Van Wyhe.
Jack LaFontaine (20-6-0) once again bested his former team as the senior alternate captain made a season-high 35 saves on 37 shots for his NCAA-leading 20th win. The Hobey Baker Award candidate and Mike Richter Award and Senior CLASS Award finalist has now allowed two goals or fewer in 26 of his last 30 starts. LaFontaine improved to 4-1-0 this year against Michigan and is now 4-0-0 on the year at Compton Family Ice Arena. Mann took the loss for Michigan to fall to 11-9-1 on the year.
Minnesota held a 40-37 advantage on shots in the victory.
Quotes from Coach
"Give our guys a lot of credit – they stuck with it being down by two and had a terrific third period to get back in it," Minnesota Head Coach Bob Motzko said. "And Sammy Walker – your best players have to come through in big games, and I thought he was outstanding tonight."
Noteworthy
The Gophers improved to 9-7-0 all-time in the Big Ten tournament…. since the start of the 2000-01 season, Minnesota is 14-1-0 against Michigan when both teams are ranked in the top-10…Ben Brinkman and Blake McLaughlin have both now played in 100 career games with the Maroon & Gold.
Up Next: Big Ten Title with a Border Battle Flair
Minnesota punched its ticket to its third Big Ten title game and first since 2016 with a Border Battle showdown against Wisconsin set for Tuesday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM). The championship game will mark the first-ever meeting between the Gophers and the Badgers in the Big Ten tournament as Minnesota will now have played every team in the league in the conference postseason.
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Team Stats
MICH
MINN
Shots
37
40
PPG
1
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
3
3
Penalty Mins
6
6
Faceoffs Won
35
37
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
7
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
4
A
1
Players Mentioned
Defense
/ Men's HockeyForward
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Defense
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Goaltender
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Forward
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Forward
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Forward
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