There was no team safe from the University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey late game heroics this season, but Sunday afternoon, in the NCAA Regional Final game, the Bulldogs latest comeback fell just heartbreakingly short.

UMD, down by three goals midway through the third period, fell to the top-seeded University of Michigan 4-2 inside the MVP Area in Albany, N.Y.

"Obviously, tough to get down three, actually didn't think we played a bad first period," said UMD head coach Scott Sandelin. "They had a couple opportunities, you know, shorthanded goals, but really, really proud of our guys. They've shown this a lot, they've won those games, but I can't be more proud of this group, you know? ?And all coaches sit up here and say that, but they are winners. Unfortunately, it wasn't tonight."

The Bulldogs surrendered their seventh first goal of the game over their last eight games just 3:05 into the first period to the Wolverines, but Sunday afternoon, unlike the previous seven games, UMD was unable to cap a quick comeback. Michigan added a power play goal at the 11:24 mark of the period before extending its lead to 3-0 less than a minute later. 

Staring down a three goal deficit, the Bulldogs, held scoreless in the second period, finally broke through 36 seconds into the third period on Harper Bentz's sixth goal of the season, who struck from the slot off a feed from Zam Plante to make it a 3-1 game.

The Wolverines responded 3:01 later to push their lead to 4-1, but the Bulldogs weren't done yet.

Ty Hanson finished another pass off from Plante –his 50th point of the season – at the 10:24 mark on the power play to cut the deficit in half. Then, with just 3:04 left in regulation, Scout Truman buried a rebound off a Kyle Gaffney shot to pull UMD within a single goal – the smallest deficit the Bulldogs had faced since midway through the first period.

UMD gave the final three minutes everything they had, with chances until the final buzzer rang out, but on this Friday night in Albany, N.Y., the Bulldogs final comeback of the season fell just short. 

"I think it's just the character of this group, in that locker room just guys want to win and we know when we get down we are never out of a game and we've shown it so many times, but just unfortunate tonight," said Ty Hanson.

UMD goaltender Adam Gajan had 23 saves on the night for UMD, which ended up outshooting Michigan 33-27 in the game and 16-6 in the final period. Both team had a power play goal – the Bulldogs were 1-of-4, while the Wolverines went 1-of-2.


Sophomore forward Max Plante and sophomore defenseman Ty Hanson were both named to the All-NCAA Regional Team -- Plante a goal and two assists for three points on the weekend, while Hanson had two goals and an assist in the NCAA postseason.

The Bulldogs finish the season 24-15-1 overall after reaching their 16th NCAA Tournament.