For a third-straight game, University of Minnesota of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey center Zam Plante sent the Bulldogs into overtime with a late game-tying third period goal, and for the second time in two nights, the sophomore ended it in overtime with a game-winning goal.

 

Plante and No. 10 UMD defeated St. Cloud State University 2-1 with a goal 5:11 into extra time to advance out the best-of-three National Collegiate Hockey Conference Quarterfinals, sweeping a series the Bulldogs never led for a minute in until they scored the overtime game-winners.

 

"I mean, winning and isn't pretty all the time, and you know, the goal was pretty at the end, but you got to fight through those games and there was a lot to fight through," said UMD head coach Scott Sandelin. "There was a lot to fight through. You know, there was, just the way the game was being played, we're playing a team that played very well, I thought (Adam) Gajan was good for us, both goalies actually were good. ?That's why I was one to one, and you know, we found a way at the end. But they're going to be in those games, just going to stick to it. hopefully we keep learning, because those are good learning lessons and every game is a good learning lesson. ?But it's nice to get it done in two and not to play tomorrow, and hopefully it'll a good week of practice and go to North Dakota."

 

The Huskies Nolan Roed scored his second of the series to put SCSU up 1-0 at the 8;44 mark of the first period, a lead they would hold until the final 31 seconds of regulation. 

 

Despite outshooting the Huskies in every period and 40-27 in regulation, UMD didn't get the puck past the goal line until Scout Truman buried it at 14:37 of the third period. But the goal only stood for a few minutes -- St. Cloud challenged the goal for goaltender interference, and for a second-subsequent night, UMD had a goal overturned late in the third period.

 

With an empty net and 31 seconds left in the frame, the Bulldogs finally scored one that would count. Zam Plante shoveled in a shot from Ty Hanson from the point past Yan Shostak to pull his game-tying heroics for a third-successive game, and just like that, the Bulldogs were even at 1-1 and had new lift and another overtime to work with to end the series in two games.

 

End it they did just over five minutes into extra time when Jayson Shaugabay, from the right of his own defensive end circle, thread the puck up to Plante on the far side of the neutral zone. Plante did the rest, driving to the net and putting the puck past Shostak on his backhand to seal the sweep and punch UMD's ticket to the NCHC postseason semifinals for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

 

"It's unbelievable, it's awesome, I can't be more proud just watching," said Max Plante, who had secondary assists on both of Zam's goals Saturday and was asked about his older brother's heroics after the game. "Me myself, I'm just trying to work hard but a lot of things are going through him right now and it's just unbelievable. You gotta love the Bulldogs right now, it's inspiring stuff."

 

Gajan had 27 stops for UMD on the night for UMD, who outshot SCSU 45-28 in the game, including 5-1 in overtime. Both teams were 0-of-3 on their power play, and the Huskies, who will end their season 16-19-1 got 43 saves from Shostak.

 

The Bulldogs (22-13-1) will move on to face the No. 1 University of North Dakota next Saturday in Grand Forks, ND. The puck is set to drop next Saturday at 6:07 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES: UMD is now 14-10 all-time in NCHC Quarterfinal games and a dominate 11-2 inside AMSOIL Arena … the Bulldogs have 22 wins for the first time since the 2021-22 season … ??that year, the Bulldogs went 22-16-4 overall, and that included four wins in the NCHC postseason (and NCHC Tournament title) and two NCAA games … UMD is currently 22-13-1 … Zam Plante has now scored six goals in his last three games, which includes three-game tying goals to send games into overtime and two game-winning overtime goals … Plante had three, two-goal games against the Huskies this season and finishes his damage against SCSU with seven goals and four assists for 11 points over six games … that also includes three-game winners over the Huskies … Saturday was Plante's 15th multiple point game this season and sixth game with two goals … the Bulldogs have three players with 40 or more points for the first time since the 2011-12 season .. Max Plante (47), Zam Plante (44) and Jayson Shaugabay (41) are the first trio of players since Jack Connolly (60), Travis Olesuk (53) and J.T. Brown (47), who all blew past the 40-point mark, to reach the milestone.