Massachusetts rolls to first NCAA hockey title
Early goal, effective penalty kill power Minutemen to crown
Massachusetts blasted St. Cloud State, 5-0, in the NCAA’s Frozen Four national championship Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena. Here’s a look at the highlights from a night that ended with the Minutemen’s first national title.
It was over when: Massachusetts commanded both teams’ five-on-four chances in the second period. The Minutemen extended its lead to 3-0 with a slick short-handed goal by Philip Lagunov at the 5:10 mark of the second. Eight minutes later, Massachusetts capitalized on its own power play, going up, 4-0, on a Matthew Kessel slap shot.
Heroes: Five Massachusetts players scored, six Minutemen assisted four of the goals, and Filip Lindberg made25 saves.
Lindberg, in particular, deserves credit for turning in a flawless performance in his return from the COVID19 absence list. Lindberg and Massachusetts’ leading scorer Carson Gicewicz missed Thursday’s semifinal win over Minnesota Duluth, traveled Friday from Amherst to Pittsburgh, tested negative for COVID-19 and played Saturday.
Striking early: Entering the weekend, Massachusetts owned a 17-0-1 record when scoring first. And it was clear from the get-go that the Minutemen were poised to make it 18-0-1. Coach Greg Carvel’s team took it to St. Cloud State, pressuring St. Cloud State goalie David Hrenak, and, eventually, notching the night’s first goal.
The Minutemen had a little help, too. Seven minutes
into the first period, it was St. Cloud State putting heat on Lindberg. But the puck deflected to Massachusetts in its defensive zone while St. Cloud State was in the middle of a shift change. One of the Huskies coming on the ice slipped and knocked out the other, giving a free break to Massachusetts’ Aaron Bohlinger and Ryan Sullivan.
Penalty-kill prowess: Massachusetts owned the second-best penalty kill in Division I college hockey going into the title game, shutting down 91.5% of power plays. On Saturday night, the Minute men were 3 for 3.
Massachusetts’ Anthony Del Gaizo was called for slashing with nearly five minutes to go in the first period. The Minutemen allowed one shot, but cleared time and time again.
Carvel’s crew turned that into a bit of momentum of its own, scoring its second goal shortly after its first penalty kill. With 1:04 left in the first period, Cal Kiefiuk took the puck along the boards, wrapped around St. Cloud State’s net and slid it across the blue paint for sophomore forward Reed Lebster.
The Minutemen’s overwhelming control over the game was felt most after Lagunov’s goal, because at the time, St. Cloud State had a chance to get back in it. Remember, this was the team that allowed three consecutive Minnesota State goals inthe semifinal, only to rally from 4-3 down and win with lessthan a minute to go.
But unlike Thursday, the Huskies couldn’t rebound fromtheir listless play.
Quotable: “With the players, he deserves a lot of credit.He built this program from the ground up. The amount of work he puts in behind the scenes recruiting players, pr e-scouts, making sure all the boys are readyto play, it’s surreal. He does a great job. He’s definitely one of the best coaches I’ve ever played for.” — Trivigno, on Carvel, Massachusetts’ fifth-year coach.
“That was a nightmare. But obviously there’s nothing we could have done about that. I’m so thankful that we got the opportunity to play here. I’m so happy right now. I don’t know what to say. But it was a tough eight days. Watching the boys play on Thursday, I was so nervous. We were all back at the hotel watching. That was something I’m going to remember for the rest of my life.” — Lindberg, on missing the semifinal due to COVID-19 protocols.
“They did something special just getting to this game. ... And I know our guys are going to use this as fuel to get back here and use this experience once we’re here again to be better.” — St. Cloud State head coach Brett Larson, on the program’s first national championshipgame appearance.
M.O.P.: Massachusetts’ Bobby Trivigno was named the Frozen Four’s most outstanding player. Trivigno assisted twice in the Minutemen’s semifinal win, including the set-up on Garrett Wait’s overtime winner. Trivigno also scored the title game’s fifth and final goal.
Frozen Four all-tournament team: Lindberg, Trivigno, Kessel, Zac Jones (Massachusetts), Nathan Smith (Minnesota State), Nolan Walker (St. Cloud State).