MSU-Mankato comeback highlights a big night in Minnesota college hockey

Gophers forward Rhett Pitlick also scored what could be the goal of the year while St. Cloud State won the NCHC title.

Author:
Chris Schad
Publish date:
Mar 19, 2023 10:53 AM EDT

Gophers forward Rhett Pitlick also scored what could be the goal of the year while St. Cloud State won the NCHC title.

While the basketball tournament is getting most of the attention, March Madness is getting ready to hit the ice as Minnesota's college hockey teams make their final preparations for the NCAA Tournament.

Saturday's action included plenty of highlights from the State of Hockey as Minnesota State-Mankato produced an epic comeback, Rhett Pitlick made a bid for the goal of the year, and St. Cloud State captured the NCHC championship in St. Paul.

Mavericks stun Northern Michigan

The Mavericks were looking for their sixth straight CCHA championship on Saturday night but found themselves in a hole against Northern Michigan.

Alex Frye scored twice for the Wildcats and the 2-0 deficit held until the final minutes when Ondrej Pavel put Mankato on the board at 17:41 of the third period. A few minutes later, Christian Fitzgerald was able to tie the game with the extra attacker on the ice, sending the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center into a frenzy.

Fitzgerald's goal sent the game to overtime, where Zach Kranjik worked his way into the slot with a 360, unleashed the backhand shot and pounded a rebound past Beni Halasz to win the Mason Cup and send the Mavericks to the NCAA Tournament.

Gophers get the highlight, Michigan gets the Big Ten

In Minneapolis, the Gophers were looking to win their second Big Ten championship in the past three seasons as they hosted Michigan in a battle of two teams that will be No. 1 regional seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

Brody Lamb put Minnesota on the board at 6:52 of the first period before Michigan took a 2-1 lead on a pair of goals from Rutger McGroarty in the second period. Logan Cooley's goal at 10:48 of the second period sent the game tied at 2-2 into the second intermission before Rhett Pitlick stole the show early in the third period.

The play began when Bryce Brodzinski found Pitlick to create a one-on-one with Michigan defenseman Steven Holtz. After unleashing a triple deke that Gordon Bombay would have been proud of sent Holtz to the ice, Pitlick beat Erik Portillo to give the Gophers the lead.

Unfortunately for Minnesota, Michigan stormed back, tying the game on Seamus Casey's goal at 5:29 and taking the lead for good at Dylan Duke's goal at 11:46.

Huskies shut out Colorado College to win the NCHC Title

After Zach Okabe's overtime goal against North Dakota sent St. Cloud State to the NCHC championship on Friday night, the Huskies made easy work out of Colorado College with a 3-0 victory on Saturday night.

Colorado College was the Cinderella of the tournament after upsetting top-seeded Denver on Friday but they couldn't find the offense needed to pull off an improbable NCHC title.

Jami Kranilla put the Huskies on the board at 14:54 of the first period before Grant Cruikshank and Kyler Kupka scored in the third period to put the game away. Jaxon Castor made 17 saves as the Huskies won the Frozen Faceoff.

What's next?

Minnesota, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State-Mankato will find out their fate during the NCAA selection show at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday night. The Gophers have already clinched the top overall seed in the tournament, while the Huskies and Mavericks earned automatic bids after winning their conference titles.