Gophers-Massachusetts preview: U takes on reigning NCAA hockey champion
Massachusetts beat St. Cloud State 5-0 in last year's men's final.
March 24, 2022 at 10:24PM
No. 2 seed Gophers vs. No. 3 Massachusetts
5 p.m. Friday, DCU Center, ESPNU, 103.5-FM, 1130-AM
Gophers at a glance: Minnesota (24-12) is playing in the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year after beating Nebraska Omaha 7-2 and losing to Minnesota State Mankato 4-0 in the Loveland (Colo.) Regional final in 2021. C Ben Meyers leads the Gophers with 16 goals and 27 points, while LW Blake McLaughlin (12-20-32) and LW Matthew Knies (12-17-29) are close behind. D Jackson LaCombe has a team-high 26 assists. G Justen Close (12-4, 1.89 goals-against average, .928 save percentage) has been solid since taking over as starter in mid-January. The Gophers are 7-8 against teams in the NCAA tournament.
Minutemen at a glance: Massachusetts (22-12-2) is the reigning NCAA champion, beating St. Cloud State 5-0 in last year's final, and was national runner-up to Minnesota Duluth in 2019. F Bobby Trivigno leads the Minutemen with 46 points on 19 goals and 27 assists. F Garrett Wait, a former Gopher from Edina, has 12 goals and 12 assists. The Minutemen won the Hockey East tournament as G Matt Murray limited UMass-Lowell and Connecticut to one goal each. UMass is 7-4-1 vs. teams in the NCAA tournament.
Friday's other semifinal: No. 1 Western Michigan vs. No. 4 Northeastern, 11 a.m., ESPNU
Sunday's championship: Semifinal winners, 3 or 5:30 p.m., ESPN2
Randy Johnson
Minnesota’s bench scored 50 points, including a team-leading 18 points from graduate transfer Annika Stewart, showcasing the depth that coach Dawn Plitzuweit promised.
