Miracle goal lifts Gophers over UND and into championship game
Justin Holl's short-handed goal with 0.6 seconds remaining lifted the Gophers to a 2-1 story-book ending victory over their rival North Dakota and into the National Championship game.
It was Holl's first goal of the season and was an incredible end to an unbelievable game.
Goaltending was the name of the game early as both Minnesota's Adam Wilcox and North Dakota's Zane Gothberg were on their game. Despite a combined 45 shots in the first two periods, neither team was able to net a goal.
It was the first time the Gophers had been kept scoreless through two periods all season.
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Finally in the third, Sam Warning broke through for the Gophers. He beat Gothberg to put Minnesota on the board at the 10:51 mark of the third period, Kyle Rau assisted. It was Warning's first goal since Feb. 28.
But just when it looked like Minnesota had the upper hand, North Dakota turned the tables with a goal just :32 later as Connor Gaarder snuck the puck by Wilcox to tie the score at one.
That set the stage for the wild ending. After Conner Reilly took a penalty for holding with 1:39 to play. In the closing seconds, with time running out, Minnesota won the draw and got the puck down the ice. Rau's shot was blocked and found its way over to Holl who beat Gothberg and the clock to give the Gophers the victory.
Wilcox finished with 36 saves in the game for the Gophers, Gothberg had 26.
Minnesota will face Union in the National Championship game on Saturday night.
