St. Cloud State beats UMD for Frozen Faceoff title

Last month, a pair of home losses to Minnesota Duluth likely cost St. Cloud State a shot at the NCHC regular-season title. On Saturday night, the Huskies gained a measure of revenge, beating the Bulldogs 3-1 at Target Center to win the NCHC Frozen Faceoff.

Freshman Mikey Eyssimont scored a pair of second period goals to erase an early Bulldogs lead, as the Huskies won their first conference tournament title since 2001. Goalie Charlie Lindgren, who is up for the Richter Award, given to the nation's top collegiate goalie, had 33 saves for the Huskies (31-8-1), who lost in the tournament title game last season.

Despite St. Cloud State's win, the Gophers' loss to Michigan in the Big Ten title game clinched an invite for the Bulldogs (18-15-5) to the 16-team NCAA tournament. The pairings will be announced at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

The Bulldogs, who had won seven in a row to get to the tournament's title game for the initial time, took a first period lead on a cross-ice pass by Willie Raskob that Carson Soucy tapped in behind Lindgren. It was the third goal of the season for Raskob, a Wild draft pick.

But Eyssimont went to work in the middle period, pulling the Huskies even after nine minutes had elapsed, then giving them a lead with a highlight reel goal in the final minute of the period. After Jimmy Schuldt's long-range shot went wide of the net, Eyssimont was on his knees with his back to the net at the side of the crease, but swept a backhand shot off Bulldogs goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo's leg pad.

Patrick Russell added an insurance goal for the Huskies early in the third period, on a shot that deflected off Minnesota Duluth center Cal Decowski in front of the net and slid past Kaskisuo, who finished with 15 saves.

Eyssimont, who hails from suburban Denver, was named the tournament's most valuable player, drawing an appreciative ovation from the announced crowd of 11,643. He had one goal to his credit in December when the Huskies went home for their holiday break, but has gone on an offensive tear in the second half of the season and heads into the national tournament with 12.

It will be their fourth consecutive NCAA tournament trip for the Huskies, who made their only Frozen Four appearance in 2013, and have lost in the regional final both of the last two seasons. Minnesota Duluth will be in the tournament for the fourth time in the past six years. The Bulldogs last Frozen Four trip came in 2011 when they beat Michigan 3-2 in overtime in St. Paul to win the program's first national title.

Denver 1, North Dakota 1 (OT): In a game that meant little for both teams, the Pioneers and Fighting Hawks skated to a 1-1 overtime tie. Nick Schmaltz scored in the first period for the Fighting Hawks (30-6-4) who entered the weekend top-ranked in the nation and are all but assured of a No. +1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

The Pioneers (23-9-4) are a surefire NCAA tournament team as well, answered with a goal by Danton Heinen in the third period. Cam Johnson had 16 saves for North Dakota, the league's regular season champions, while Pioneers goalie Evan Cowley had 26 saves.