University of Minnesota Athletics

Gophers Fall to Michigan in B1G Title Game
3/19/2022 11:16:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The NCAA Selection Show airs Sunday at 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
MINNEAPOLIS – An early goal and pair of late tallies couldn't bring the Gopher men's hockey team's winning streak to double digits on Saturday night as No. 2/3 Minnesota fell 4-3 to No. 4 Michigan in the Big Ten tournament championship game at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
In front of a tournament and 3M Arena at Mariucci record crowd of 10,774, Minnesota (24-12-0) scored once in the opening minute of play and twice in the final minute of play as the program's nine-game winning streak was snapped by the Wolverines (29-9-1), who scored four goals in between the Minnesota tallies.
Jaxon Nelson opened the game with a goal 32 seconds into the first period for his sixth of the year while Matthew Knies scored his 11th and 12th goals of the year at 19:03 and 19:55 of the third period, respectively. Both tallies from Knies came on power-play strikes with an extra attacker on for the Gophers. Jackson LaCombe led the Maroon & Gold with a pair of assists. Michigan featured four different goal scorers.
Minnesota was outshot 31-28 in the conference championship game with Justen Close making 27 saves to move to 12-4-0 on the year. Erik Portillo made 25 saves for Michigan to move to 29-9-1.
Noteworthy
Minnesota made its fourth Big Ten title game appearance on Saturday and moved to 2-2 in the game…the Gophers are 11-8 all-time in the Big Ten tournament and 4-2 against Michigan in the tournament.
Next Up: Selection Sunday
The Gophers will learn where they are headed for the NCAA tournament on Sunday, March 20 as the NCAA Selection Show airs on ESPNU at 5:30 p.m. CT.
In front of a tournament and 3M Arena at Mariucci record crowd of 10,774, Minnesota (24-12-0) scored once in the opening minute of play and twice in the final minute of play as the program's nine-game winning streak was snapped by the Wolverines (29-9-1), who scored four goals in between the Minnesota tallies.
Jaxon Nelson opened the game with a goal 32 seconds into the first period for his sixth of the year while Matthew Knies scored his 11th and 12th goals of the year at 19:03 and 19:55 of the third period, respectively. Both tallies from Knies came on power-play strikes with an extra attacker on for the Gophers. Jackson LaCombe led the Maroon & Gold with a pair of assists. Michigan featured four different goal scorers.
Minnesota was outshot 31-28 in the conference championship game with Justen Close making 27 saves to move to 12-4-0 on the year. Erik Portillo made 25 saves for Michigan to move to 29-9-1.
Noteworthy
Minnesota made its fourth Big Ten title game appearance on Saturday and moved to 2-2 in the game…the Gophers are 11-8 all-time in the Big Ten tournament and 4-2 against Michigan in the tournament.
Next Up: Selection Sunday
The Gophers will learn where they are headed for the NCAA tournament on Sunday, March 20 as the NCAA Selection Show airs on ESPNU at 5:30 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
MIC
UMN
Shots
31
28
PPG
1
2
SHG
0
0
Penalties
3
5
Penalty Mins
6
21
Faceoffs Won
24
43
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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Tuesday, March 24










