BU rallies past Minnesota, 6-3, to net Frozen Four berth

Down 2-0 late in the first period, things didn’t look promising for Boston University.

But 14 seconds after Minnesota took the twogoal lead, Quinn Hutson scored an unassisted tally and the Terriers never looked back, dominating the rest of the NCAA Tournament game to win 6-3 and capture the Sioux Falls Regional before 6,113 fans Saturday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

BU (28-9-2), winners of eight of nine, are headed to the Frozen Four for the 24th time in program history.

The Terriers will play the winner of Sunday’s Michigan-Michigan State battle in Saint Paul, Minn.

BU earned a measure of revenge as well. Last season, in a Frozen Four semifinal, Minnesota earned a 6-2 win over the Terriers. The storied programs are now deadlocked 13-13-2 in their all-time series after

BU posted its 47th NCAA Tournament win.

The Terriers displayed impressive balance to defeat Minnesota (23-11-5), as they received goals from six different players — Hutson, Shane Lachance, Jack Harvey, Lane Hutson, Case McCarthy and Sam Stevens. Prized freshman forward Macklin Celebrini, the projected the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, dished out three assists.

BU’s Mathieu Caron stopped 25 shots to outduel his Minnesota counterpart, Justen Close, who made 32 saves.

Goals by Jaxon Nelson and Bryce Brodzinski in the opening period had the Golden Gophers dreaming of another Frozen Four berth. But Quinn Hutson’s goal allowed the Terriers to go into the middle period down by just one goal.

BU led 4-3 after two periods and was dominant in the final frame. The game also featured a rarity — neither team was called for a penalty.