University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, March 28
Sioux Falls, S.D.
7:30 PM
University of Minnesota
23-10-5
3
vs
2
Omaha
23-13-4
1
2
3
F
Omaha
0
1
1
2
Minnesota
0
1
2
3
Team Stats
UNO
MIN
Shots
36
39
PPG
1
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
2
3
Penalty Mins
4
9
Faceoffs Won
31
26
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
2
Goals
2
Sh
6
A
0
+/-
2
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
2
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Nelson Fuels Gophers' NCAA Rally over Omaha, 3-2
3/28/2024 11:30:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Two third-period goals setup by Brodzinski
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Playing 40 miles from his childhood home, it was Jaxon Nelson's two goals in the final 11 minutes that turned a one-goal deficit into a 3-2 victory for the No. 7 Minnesota men's hockey team over No. 11/12 Omaha in the NCAA Sioux Falls Regional Thursday night inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
The No. 2 seed Golden Gophers (23-10-5 overall) turned to their veterans in the do-or-die postseason to take down the regional host and third-seeded Mavericks (23-13-4 overall). Both of Nelson's third-period tallies were setup by fellow fifth-year Bryce Brodzinski before their classmate Justen Close and the defense shut down Omaha to the finish, moving one win away from a spot in the NCAA Frozen Four.
It was a quiet start to the night for both sides as they searched for their legs from the opening faceoff. That lasted more than 10 minutes until Minnesota's Close delivered a clutch save with 7:42 remaining in the period as the Mavericks had a point-blank chance in the slot. After just its third shot, Omaha moved to a power play less than a minute later. The Gophers erased the man advantage and were pinned in their defensive zone before a diving clearance from John Mittelstadt eased the pressure. In the frame's final minute, Minnesota was assessed a minor penalty that was upgraded to a five-minute major following a video challenge. The Maroon and Gold killed off the initial 55 seconds, sending the teams to the locker room scoreless.
The Gophers held off the Mavericks for nearly two minutes of the extended power play at the start of the second stanza before a seeing-eye shot through traffic broke the deadlock at the 1:51 mark. When it got back to full strength, the designated home team, Minnesota, went on the attack where Connor Kurth found Jimmy Snuggerud at the right circle for a chance that was turned aside. It was all Gophers from that point as they fired seven shots during a two-minute span and tested the Omaha cage, including a Brody Lamb rebound that hit the post following a drive up the ice from Ryan Chesley. With 7:06 to play in the second stanza, Oliver Moore was cross-checked after the whistle, giving Minnesota its first power play. Brodzinski had two quality looks at goal but could not slip one past the Omaha netminder.
The man advantage helped tilt the ice and generate momentum for Minnesota. During a 4-on-4 stretch late in the frame, Nelson nearly pulled the team even as he cut around the defense for a dangerous shot. It was freshman Jimmy Clark that rose to occasion and buried the equalizer as the clock read 1:59 remaining in the second stanza. Kurth forced a turnover at the Omaha blue line and fed a pass across to a streaking Clark. The Edina, Minn., native ripped a shot just under the bar, giving the Maroon and Gold faithful something to cheer as it drew even, 1-1, through 40 minutes of postseason action.
The Mavericks broke the tie 4:28 into the final frame, taking advantage of a bouncing puck near the crease. From there, the Gophers' veterans took charge when the team needed it most. Brodzinski's aggressive forecheck paid off behind the net as he stole the puck, chipped it off the boards to himself, and put a centering pass right on the tape of Nelson. The Magnolia, Minn., product buried the game-tying tally at the 9:15 mark, bringing energy back to his bench.
His line continued to buzz and thanks to another Omaha turnover, found the go-ahead goal with just 4:13 to play in regulation. Nelson and Brodzinski combined for the second time in the third period as Nelson tipped home a perfect pass with his backhand right in front of the crease, giving Minnesota its first lead, 3-2. Close fought off traffic to make a save with 90 seconds to go as the Mavericks pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. The Gophers battled to shut the game down and secured the come-from-behind win thanks to four of Close's 36 total saves over the final 30 seconds and blocks from Mason Nevers, Nelson, Cal Thomas, and Aaron Huglen.
Noteworthy
Clark scored his first goal in 23 games, dating back to a home win over Michigan State Nov. 26, 2023, and picked up his fifth of the season in his NCAA debut ... Nelson put away his 18th goal and reached the 30-point mark for the first time in his career, while recording his 10th NCAA Tournament point in 10 career appearances ... The graduate student has 10 goals over his last seven games played, including four multi-goal outings ... Kurth's helper was his 14th this year and 21st point, and now has points in four of the past eight outings ... The Lindstrom, Minn., native has reached the scoresheet three times in four NCAA Tournament contests, totaling one goal and three assists ... Brodzinski ended a three-game pointless streak, his longest drought of the season, with his 21st assist and stretched his point total to 34, one behind the team leader ... The fifth-year senior matched Nelson with 10 career points in the national tournament ... Playing in the 100th game of his college career, Close tallied his 13th outing of the year with at least 30 saves, crossing over 1,000 saves for the season during his 62nd all-time victory ... After posting only four shots in the opening frame, the Gophers fired 22 shots in the middle period before tallying 13 during the third, holding a 39-36 overall edge ... The Maroon and Gold have won at least one game in its last four trips to the national stage and are seeking a third-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four ... Minnesota played its first-ever game in the state of South Dakota, coming during its 103rd year of competition.
Next Up: NCAA Regional Final (Mar. 30)
The Gophers advance to the regional final for the fourth-straight season where they will face the region's top seed, Boston University, with a spot in St. Paul on the line. The game is set for 5:30 p.m. Saturday night at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center live on ESPNU and the Gopher Radio Network.
The No. 2 seed Golden Gophers (23-10-5 overall) turned to their veterans in the do-or-die postseason to take down the regional host and third-seeded Mavericks (23-13-4 overall). Both of Nelson's third-period tallies were setup by fellow fifth-year Bryce Brodzinski before their classmate Justen Close and the defense shut down Omaha to the finish, moving one win away from a spot in the NCAA Frozen Four.
It was a quiet start to the night for both sides as they searched for their legs from the opening faceoff. That lasted more than 10 minutes until Minnesota's Close delivered a clutch save with 7:42 remaining in the period as the Mavericks had a point-blank chance in the slot. After just its third shot, Omaha moved to a power play less than a minute later. The Gophers erased the man advantage and were pinned in their defensive zone before a diving clearance from John Mittelstadt eased the pressure. In the frame's final minute, Minnesota was assessed a minor penalty that was upgraded to a five-minute major following a video challenge. The Maroon and Gold killed off the initial 55 seconds, sending the teams to the locker room scoreless.
The Gophers held off the Mavericks for nearly two minutes of the extended power play at the start of the second stanza before a seeing-eye shot through traffic broke the deadlock at the 1:51 mark. When it got back to full strength, the designated home team, Minnesota, went on the attack where Connor Kurth found Jimmy Snuggerud at the right circle for a chance that was turned aside. It was all Gophers from that point as they fired seven shots during a two-minute span and tested the Omaha cage, including a Brody Lamb rebound that hit the post following a drive up the ice from Ryan Chesley. With 7:06 to play in the second stanza, Oliver Moore was cross-checked after the whistle, giving Minnesota its first power play. Brodzinski had two quality looks at goal but could not slip one past the Omaha netminder.
The man advantage helped tilt the ice and generate momentum for Minnesota. During a 4-on-4 stretch late in the frame, Nelson nearly pulled the team even as he cut around the defense for a dangerous shot. It was freshman Jimmy Clark that rose to occasion and buried the equalizer as the clock read 1:59 remaining in the second stanza. Kurth forced a turnover at the Omaha blue line and fed a pass across to a streaking Clark. The Edina, Minn., native ripped a shot just under the bar, giving the Maroon and Gold faithful something to cheer as it drew even, 1-1, through 40 minutes of postseason action.
The Mavericks broke the tie 4:28 into the final frame, taking advantage of a bouncing puck near the crease. From there, the Gophers' veterans took charge when the team needed it most. Brodzinski's aggressive forecheck paid off behind the net as he stole the puck, chipped it off the boards to himself, and put a centering pass right on the tape of Nelson. The Magnolia, Minn., product buried the game-tying tally at the 9:15 mark, bringing energy back to his bench.
His line continued to buzz and thanks to another Omaha turnover, found the go-ahead goal with just 4:13 to play in regulation. Nelson and Brodzinski combined for the second time in the third period as Nelson tipped home a perfect pass with his backhand right in front of the crease, giving Minnesota its first lead, 3-2. Close fought off traffic to make a save with 90 seconds to go as the Mavericks pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. The Gophers battled to shut the game down and secured the come-from-behind win thanks to four of Close's 36 total saves over the final 30 seconds and blocks from Mason Nevers, Nelson, Cal Thomas, and Aaron Huglen.
Noteworthy
Clark scored his first goal in 23 games, dating back to a home win over Michigan State Nov. 26, 2023, and picked up his fifth of the season in his NCAA debut ... Nelson put away his 18th goal and reached the 30-point mark for the first time in his career, while recording his 10th NCAA Tournament point in 10 career appearances ... The graduate student has 10 goals over his last seven games played, including four multi-goal outings ... Kurth's helper was his 14th this year and 21st point, and now has points in four of the past eight outings ... The Lindstrom, Minn., native has reached the scoresheet three times in four NCAA Tournament contests, totaling one goal and three assists ... Brodzinski ended a three-game pointless streak, his longest drought of the season, with his 21st assist and stretched his point total to 34, one behind the team leader ... The fifth-year senior matched Nelson with 10 career points in the national tournament ... Playing in the 100th game of his college career, Close tallied his 13th outing of the year with at least 30 saves, crossing over 1,000 saves for the season during his 62nd all-time victory ... After posting only four shots in the opening frame, the Gophers fired 22 shots in the middle period before tallying 13 during the third, holding a 39-36 overall edge ... The Maroon and Gold have won at least one game in its last four trips to the national stage and are seeking a third-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four ... Minnesota played its first-ever game in the state of South Dakota, coming during its 103rd year of competition.
Next Up: NCAA Regional Final (Mar. 30)
The Gophers advance to the regional final for the fourth-straight season where they will face the region's top seed, Boston University, with a spot in St. Paul on the line. The game is set for 5:30 p.m. Saturday night at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center live on ESPNU and the Gopher Radio Network.
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