2018 NCAA Tournament: Michigan defeats Boston to advance to Frozen Four
The Michigan hockey team defeated Boston, 6-3, on Sunday to advance to the Frozen Four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. Wolverines sophomore forward Jake Slaker scored a goal with 13:33 remaining to snap a 3-3 draw, and then goals from junior defender Nicholas Boka and sophomore forward Nick Pastujov late in the game sealed the win for Michigan.
CLIP: @JakeSlaker_ gives Michigan the lead with 13:33 left in regulation!!!#GoBluepic.twitter.com/3j4s3EwX51
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) March 25, 2018
CLIP: @nboka74 with his first of the season to give the Wolverines a 5-3 lead with only 3:42 remaining in regulation!#GoBluepic.twitter.com/ccv50l4M20
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) March 25, 2018
Michigan was the No. 2 seed in the Northeast regional, and advanced to Sunday’s quarterfinal after knocking off No. 3-seed Northeastern. Boston, the No. 4 seed in the region, defeated top-seeded Cornell in its first-round matchup.
The Wolverines got on the board first when freshman defender Quinn Hughes scored at the 5:12 mark. When Boston answered with a goal of its own about seven minutes later, Michigan senior forward Tony Calderone scored to give the Wolverines a lead heading into the second period.
Junior forward Brendan Warren scored early in the second, but then Boston responded with two straight goals to knot the game at 3 early in the period. Slaker’s unassisted goal with less than 14 minutes remaining proved the difference.
TICKET PUNCHED! We'll see you in Minneapolis.#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/wKtkMOxy9D
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) March 25, 2018
Michigan last advanced to the the Frozen Four in 2011, losing in the national championship to Minnesota-Duluth.