Frozen Four preview: Minnesota Duluth vs. Massachusetts
April 8, 2021 at 11:32AM
![UMD Bulldogs forward Cole Koepke (17) celebrated after scoring a goal to give UMD a 2-0 lead in the third period. ]](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/EZCMEN4G43R2YCHO2JQF6PFJH4.jpg?&w=712)
8 p.m. Thursday • PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh • ESPN2
UMD win streak in NCAAs at 10
Bulldogs at a glance
Record: 15-10-2, third place in NCHC regular season, lost in NCHC tournament semifinals.
How they got here: At-large selection, No. 3 seed in Midwest Regional. Didn't play No. 2 seed Michigan because of COVID-19 issues, beat No. 1 seed North Dakota 3-2 in five overtimes.
Key facts and figures: The Bulldogs are playing in their fourth consecutive Frozen Four and have won the past two, 2-1 over Notre Dame in 2018 and 3-0 over Massachusetts in 2019. UMD has a 10-game winning streak in NCAA tournament play and is 13-1 in its past four appearances. … Nick Swaney (13-14-27) and Jackson Cates (11-16-27) lead a balanced scoring group for UMD, which also has Kobe Roth (13-10-23), Cole Koepke (14-8-22) and Koby Bender (7-13-20) with 20 points or more. … The Bulldogs have used two goalies lately, with freshman Zach Stejskal (4-3, 1.75 GAA, .934 save percentage) getting the start against North Dakota before having to leave the game because of cramps in the fourth overtime. Sophomore Ryan Fanti (11-7-2, 2.36, .907) made six saves the rest of the way.
Minutemen at a glance
Record: 18-5-4, third place Hockey East, won conference tournament.
How they got here: Hockey East tournament champion, No. 2 seed in East Regional. Defeated No. 3 seed Lake Superior State 5-1 and Bemidji State 4-0.
Key facts and figures: UMass received bad news Tuesday morning: Leading goal-scorer Carson Gicewicz and starting goalie Filip Lindberg, plus two other players, will miss the semifinal against Minnesota Duluth because of COVID-19 contact tracing protocols. Gicewicz has 17 goals and 24 points this season and had a hat trick against the Beavers. Lindberg is a big reason the Minutemen are on a 12-game unbeaten streak (9-0-3) and in that span has four shutouts and five games with one goal allowed. … UMass will rely on points leaders Bobby Trivigno (10-21-31) and Oliver Chau (5-20-25) and high-scoring defensemen Zac Jones (8-15-23) and Matthew Kessel (9-12-21). In goal, the Minutemen will turn to senior Matt Murray, who is 9-4 with a 2.01 GAA and .913 save percentage but hasn't played since Jan. 18.
Randy Johnson
The mobile defenseman helped Team USA to another gold medal at the world juniors, and is thriving at Denver.
