2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: 2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

Midwest Regional – Allentown

#2 – Penn State v. #3 – Massachusetts Lowell
The Penn State Nittany Lions and the Massachusetts Lowell RiverHawks squared off in the second Midwest Regional Semifinal here in Allentown, with a slot in the Midwest Regional Final on the line. The sides met earlier this season in an epic thriller in Lowell, with Penn State forcing overtime with a goal in the final seconds of regulation, but UML had the last laugh, winning in overtime. The two goalies who waged that battle were back in the nets this afternoon, Peyton Jones for Penn State and Tyler Wall for the RiverHawks. The netminders outperformed the skaters in the opening twenty minutes, as Jones stopped each of the RiverHawks 9 shots on goal, and Wall kept out all of Penn State’s 11 shots on net, and after one period of play, the score remained 0-0. However, the Penn State-friendly crowd in Allentown got to finally roar early in the second period when Liam Folkes tallied a powerplay goal, corralling a rebound at the near post and sliding the puck into the back of the net to put the Nittany Lions up 1-0. Midway through the second period the UML fans, many of whom chartered flights to get to Allentown, finally got their chance to make some noise. Seth Barton flung a beautiful saucer pass through the neutral zone, which connected with Connor Sodergren’s stick, who skated between the Penn State defenders and lifted a wrister over Jones’ blocker and into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. The RiverHawks’ faithful would not sit down for long, as just two minutes later, Carl Berglund found Matt Brown at the bottom of the near circle, and Brown one-timed the puck underneath Jones’ sliding pads to give Lowell its first lead of the game at 2-1. Wall kept the Nittany Lions off the board the rest of the second period, continuing his strong postseason play, and after forty minutes of action, Lowell held a one-goal advantage. The Nittany Lions were given a great opportunity to knot the score just over five minutes into the third period when Anthony Baxter was called for interference. PSU held the puck in the Lowell zone for the first 90 seconds of the man advantage, but were unable to solve Wall. However, just as Baxter got back on the ice, Nate Sucese took a pass along the far boards, skated towards the slot, and ripped a wrister that Wall caught a piece of with his glove, but the puck trickled over his arm and into the back of the net to tie the game at 2-2. The two sides pushed for the go-ahead goal, but as the clock wound down in the third, it appeared the two sides would again need an extra session to settle this one. But with just under three minutes to play, Cole Hults launched a blast from the point that deflected off Alex Limoges’ hip, who was stationed at the top of the crease. Wall, unable to react in time, watched as the puck bounced into the net, and the Nittany Lions took a 3-2 lead with just a few minutes to play. The RiverHawks desperately pushed for the equalizer in the final 150 seconds, but Jones was able to keep the puck out of his net, and when the game ended, it was Penn State advancing to the Midwest Regional Final with a 3-2 victory over Massachusetts Lowell.

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: 2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

Midwest Regional – Allentown

#1 – Minnesota State v. #4 – Western Michigan
The Minnesota State Mavericks squared off against the Western Michigan Broncos in the opening tilt of the Midwest Regional Semifinals today in Allentown. The Mavericks’ Marc Michaelis got the top seed on the board early, thanks to a beautiful wrister from the slot that beat WMU’s Brandon Bussi five-hole to give Mankato a 1-0 lead. Minnesota State built on their advantage midway through the opening frame, after Mattias Samuelsson was called for interference. With the man advantage, the Mavericks spun the puck around the offensive zone, eventually finding Charlie Gerard at the bottom of the near circle, who roofed a wrister over Bussi’s outstretched blocker. At the other end of the ice, MSU goaltender Dryden McKay held the Broncos off the scoreboard in the first twenty, and through one period, Minnesota State had a 2-0 advantage. Western Michigan would finally crack McKay’s spell early in the second when Ronnie Attard found Austin Reuschhoff in the neutral zone. Reuschhoff split the defenders and ripped a wrister from the slot that beat McKay glove-side to pull the Broncos within a goal. Minnesota State would respond quickly however, as just moments later Parker Tuomie gathered a puck along the near boards, skated to the near circle, and wristed a shot that beat Bussi stick-side clean, putting the Mavericks back up by two. Midway through the second, the Broncos reared back into the game, after Nathan Smith was called for cross-checking. On the powerplay, McKay stopped Cam Lee’s slapper from the top of the far circle, but the rebound went straight to Paul Washe, who flicked a backhand into the back of the net and pulled WMU back within a goal. After forty minutes of action, that is where the score remained, Minnesota State holding a precarious 3-2 lead. The Broncos would finally pull even early in the third when Rhett Kingston’s wrist shot from the top of the slit deflected off a Mankato defenseman, and fooled McKay, who watched the puck drift past his glove and into the back of the net. Tied 3-3, both sides pushed for the lead. Just aver the midway point of the period, Michaelis put his team on his back, poking a loose puck near the benches past the Broncos’ blueliner, and skated in on a partial breakaway. Michaelis’ moved to the slot and flipped a wrister on Bussi, who pushed it aside, but the rebound went right back to Michaelis’ stick at the top of the crease, and he jammed the rebound under Bussi’s pads to put Minnesota State back on top 4-3. As the clock wound down, Western Michigan pushed for the equalize. Unfortunately for the WMU faithful, it would be Reggie Lutz padding Minnesota State’s lead with just over two minutes to play, catching the Broncos trying to pinch in and going in all alone on a breakaway and putting a wrister top shelf to give Minnesota State a 5-3 advantage. That would be all the Mavericks would need, and when the final horn sounded, Minnesota State captured the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament victory, 5-3 over Western Michigan, and advanced to the Midwest Regional Final tomorrow afternoon.

And Western goes 0 for 8. Love it.

[leswp1]

Re: 2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

Boooo! came up short again. CHN made us lose too and they ruined my walk by pinging me with a notification
les is a sad panda and drowning her sorrows in yet more chocolate milk

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: 2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

East Regional – Albany

#2 – Clarkson v. #3 – Massachusetts
The Clarkson Golden Knights and the Massachusetts Minutemen squared off this evening with a spot in the East Regional Final on the line here in Albany. Matt Murray got the nod in net for the Minutemen, while Frank Marotte manned the pipes for the Golden Knights. Marotte was tested early and often in the first period, as the Minutemen bombarded the Clarkson netminder with 9 shots in the opening ten minutes of action. However, Marotte kept his net clean, stopping the Massachusetts strong start. Murray was not as lucky. Just over eight minutes into the action, Jack Jacome ripped a wrister that fooled Murray and beat him stick-side to give Clarkson a 1-0 lead. The Golden Knights would add to their advantage, late in the first period, when Nick Campoli won a puck battle in the far corner, and slid the puck down the boards to Brian Hurley, who launched a wrister on net through traffic. Murray was unable to find the puck, which slid in just under the crossbar to put Clarkson up 2-0 after twenty minutes of play. The Minutemen came out strong again in the second period, and this time John Leonard found the back of the net just over three minutes into the middle frame, when he roofed a wrister from the slot past Marotte to pull UMASS within a goal. Midway through the second, Clarkson’s Jordan Schneider was called for boarding. The refs reviewed to see if it was a major, but the call on the ice stood. Either way, the Minutemen wasted little time taking advantage, when Mitchell Chaffee ripped a one-timer from the near circle top shelf to tie the game at 2-2. Massachusetts continued their momentum just minutes later, when Colin Felix found Jack Suter streaking through the neutral zone. Suter zoomed along the near boards and past the Clarkson defender, and muscled to the bottom of he near circle before sliding a wrist shot that beat Marotte five-hole and sending the Minutemen faithful into a frenzy with a 3-2 advantage. Casey Jones called his timeout to try to stop the momentum, but UMASS was able to extend their lead in the waning seconds of the middle stanza, as Reed Lebster found space in the slot and flung a laser that beat Marotte stick-side to put Massachusetts up 4-2 after forty minutes of action. Clarkson pushed hard to start the third, but Murray was up to the task, turning aside each of the Golden Knights’ eight shots on frame in the opening six minutes of play in the third. However, Clarkson would solve Murray for the third time midway through the final frame, as Zach Tsekos won a puck battle in the near corner, and then found Heralds Egle all alone at the bottom of the far circle. Egle ripped in the one-timer into a gaping net, and the Golden Knights pulled back within a goal. It would be as close as they would get. While Clarkson ferociously fought to tie the game, Murray held firm in the final minutes of play, and as the final buzzer sounded, it was Massachusetts who advanced to the East Regional Final with a 4-3 victory over Clarkson.

[leswp1]

Re: 2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

East Regional – Albany

#2 – Clarkson v. #3 – Massachusetts
The Clarkson Golden Knights and the Massachusetts Minutemen squared off this evening with a spot in the East Regional Final on the line here in Albany. Matt Murray got the nod in net for the Minutemen, while Frank Marotte manned the pipes for the Golden Knights. Marotte was tested early and often in the first period, as the Minutemen bombarded the Clarkson netminder with 9 shots in the opening ten minutes of action. However, Marotte kept his net clean, stopping the Massachusetts strong start. Murray was not as lucky. Just over eight minutes into the action, Jack Jacome ripped a wrister that fooled Murray and beat him stick-side to give Clarkson a 1-0 lead. The Golden Knights would add to their advantage, late in the first period, when Nick Campoli won a puck battle in the far corner, and slid the puck down the boards to Brian Hurley, who launched a wrister on net through traffic. Murray was unable to find the puck, which slid in just under the crossbar to put Clarkson up 2-0 after twenty minutes of play. The Minutemen came out strong again in the second period, and this time John Leonard found the back of the net just over three minutes into the middle frame, when he roofed a wrister from the slot past Marotte to pull UMASS within a goal. Midway through the second, Clarkson’s Jordan Schneider was called for boarding. The refs reviewed to see if it was a major, but the call on the ice stood. Either way, the Minutemen wasted little time taking advantage, when Mitchell Chaffee ripped a one-timer from the near circle top shelf to tie the game at 2-2. Massachusetts continued their momentum just minutes later, when Colin Felix found Jack Suter streaking through the neutral zone. Suter zoomed along the near boards and past the Clarkson defender, and muscled to the bottom of he near circle before sliding a wrist shot that beat Marotte five-hole and sending the Minutemen faithful into a frenzy with a 3-2 advantage. Casey Jones called his timeout to try to stop the momentum, but UMASS was able to extend their lead in the waning seconds of the middle stanza, as Reed Lebster found space in the slot and flung a laser that beat Marotte stick-side to put Massachusetts up 4-2 after forty minutes of action. Clarkson pushed hard to start the third, but Murray was up to the task, turning aside each of the Golden Knights’ eight shots on frame in the opening six minutes of play in the third. However, Clarkson would solve Murray for the third time midway through the final frame, as Zach Tsekos won a puck battle in the near corner, and then found Heralds Egle all alone at the bottom of the far circle. Egle ripped in the one-timer into a gaping net, and the Golden Knights pulled back within a goal. It would be as close as they would get. While Clarkson ferociously fought to tie the game, Murray held firm in the final minutes of play, and as the final buzzer sounded, it was Massachusetts who advanced to the East Regional Final with a 4-3 victory over Clarkson.

Aw come on first we lose and then the #notmyflagship wins. How to wreck a good Sat evening.

(Even if I know Clarkson still sucks)

[jjmc85]

East Regional – Albany

#2 – Clarkson v. #3 – Massachusetts
The Clarkson Golden Knights and the Massachusetts Minutemen squared off this evening with a spot in the East Regional Final on the line here in Albany. Matt Murray got the nod in net for the Minutemen, while Frank Marotte manned the pipes for the Golden Knights. Marotte was tested early and often in the first period, as the Minutemen bombarded the Clarkson netminder with 9 shots in the opening ten minutes of action. However, Marotte kept his net clean, stopping the Massachusetts strong start. Murray was not as lucky. Just over eight minutes into the action, Jack Jacome ripped a wrister that fooled Murray and beat him stick-side to give Clarkson a 1-0 lead. The Golden Knights would add to their advantage, late in the first period, when Nick Campoli won a puck battle in the far corner, and slid the puck down the boards to Brian Hurley, who launched a wrister on net through traffic. Murray was unable to find the puck, which slid in just under the crossbar to put Clarkson up 2-0 after twenty minutes of play. The Minutemen came out strong again in the second period, and this time John Leonard found the back of the net just over three minutes into the middle frame, when he roofed a wrister from the slot past Marotte to pull UMASS within a goal. Midway through the second, Clarkson’s Jordan Schneider was called for boarding. The refs reviewed to see if it was a major, but the call on the ice stood. Either way, the Minutemen wasted little time taking advantage, when Mitchell Chaffee ripped a one-timer from the near circle top shelf to tie the game at 2-2. Massachusetts continued their momentum just minutes later, when Colin Felix found Jack Suter streaking through the neutral zone. Suter zoomed along the near boards and past the Clarkson defender, and muscled to the bottom of he near circle before sliding a wrist shot that beat Marotte five-hole and sending the Minutemen faithful into a frenzy with a 3-2 advantage. Casey Jones called his timeout to try to stop the momentum, but UMASS was able to extend their lead in the waning seconds of the middle stanza, as Reed Lebster found space in the slot and flung a laser that beat Marotte stick-side to put Massachusetts up 4-2 after forty minutes of action. Clarkson pushed hard to start the third, but Murray was up to the task, turning aside each of the Golden Knights’ eight shots on frame in the opening six minutes of play in the third. However, Clarkson would solve Murray for the third time midway through the final frame, as Zach Tsekos won a puck battle in the near corner, and then found Heralds Egle all alone at the bottom of the far circle. Egle ripped in the one-timer into a gaping net, and the Golden Knights pulled back within a goal. It would be as close as they would get. While Clarkson ferociously fought to tie the game, Murray held firm in the final minutes of play, and as the final buzzer sounded, it was Massachusetts who advanced to the East Regional Final with a 4-3 victory over Clarkson.

Nice to know the multiverse theory is true.

The me in the USCHO universe is simultaneously ecstatic that UMass advances and UML WON’T be at my bachelor party in Detroit (and is pointing this out gleefully to my best man and another groomsmen who are both UML grads) while also absolutely livid that my little sister chose tomorrow for the baptism of my niece and I’m gonna have to miss the game. Of all the things she has done to me in that universe, this might be the worst. That me can’t think of a worse tomorrow.

The me in this universe knows better

And, for sake of completeness, the me in the CHN universe is disappointed with the loss today, but still very proud of the season UMass played, and can’t wait for next season. Those last two parts apply to this universe as well

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: 2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

Northeast Regional Final – Worcester

#1 – Cornell v. #2 – Boston College
With a spot in the Frozen Four in Detroit on the line, the top seeded Cornell Big Red matched up with the second seeded Boston College Eagles in the Northeast Regional Final in Worcester. Matthew Galajda, who has appeared in every Cornell game this season, took his spot in net for the Big Red, while Spencer Knight again got the nod from Coach York to start in net for the Eagles. The opening minutes were tense, with both sides weighing the other, and the puck largely spending time in the neutral zone. Cornell had the game’s first great opportunity midway through the period when Morgan Barron tipped the puck out of the Cornell zone and past a pinching Eagle blueliner, and skated in on a 1 on 1 into the Eagles zone. Barron beat the BC defender to the outside along the near boards, and zoomed to the crease, but Knight gloved Barron’s wrister that was otherwise destined for the top shelf. The Eagles first great chance came after Sam Malinski was called for tripping and BC went to the powerplay. However, Galajda swatted away each of BC’s four shots on goal with the man advantage. As the horn sounded ending the first period, the score remained 0-0. Both sides played much looser in the second, and just over seven minutes into the middle frame, Yanni Kaldis rocketed home a slapshot from the point that beat Knight and gave the Big Red a 1-0 lead. BC would counter with just over eight minutes to play in the period, when Alex Newhook danced into the slot and lasered a wrister past Galajda’s blocker to knot the game at 1-1. With time winding down in the second period, Boston College took their first lead of the game when David Cotton’s wrister from the far circle was stopped by Galajda, but the rebound was kicked right to Matt Boldy at the top of the crease, who jammed the puck between Galajda’s pads and into the back of the net to put BC up 2-1. The Eagles kept their one-goal advantage in the waning seconds of the middle frame, and after two periods, BC led Cornell 2-1. Cornell pushed hard for the equalizer early in the third period, and earned a powerplay when Luke McInnis was called for hauling down Barron behind the BC net. Cornell had several grade A opportunities, but Knight stymied the Big Red over and over again, including a beautiful glove save on Tristan Mullin’s wrister from the bottom of the far circle that looked certain to tie the game. While the powerplay expired without Cornell finding the back of the net, the Big Red continued to dominate possession in the BC zone. However, with just over eight minutes to play in the third period, Yanni Kaldis pinched in at the far boards to keep the puck in, but Jack McBain pushed the puck out into the neutral zone, leading to a 2 on 1 with Aapeli Rasanen. McBain fed the puck to Rasanen at the top of the circles, and Rasanen dished it back to McBain at the bottom of the far circle, and McBain’s one-timer trickled through Galajda to put BC up 3-1. Cornell continued to mount pressure to try to get back in striking distance but Knight was simply too good. Knight stopped all 15 shots on goal that the Big Red fired on net in the third period, and as the horn sounded to end the third period, the Eagles stormed the ice to celebrate their spot in the Frozen Four, thanks to a 3-1 victory over the Big Red in the Northeast Regional Final.

[MarkEagleUSA]

Re: 2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

the Eagles stormed the ice to celebrate their spot in the Frozen Four, thanks to a 3-1 victory over the Big Red in the Northeast Regional Final.

Honestly didn't see that one coming...

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: 2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

West Regional Final – Loveland

#2 Denver –v. #4 – Ohio State
The second seeded Denver Pioneers met up with the fourth seeded Ohio State Buckeyes this evening in Loveland for the West Regional Final, with a spot in the Frozen Four up for grabs. The Pioneers again tabbed Magnus Chrona to start in goal, while the Buckeyes stayed with Tommy Nappier between the pipes. Perhaps showing some heavy legs from their overtime victory the day before, Ohio State started slow, and Denver made them pay. Just over five minutes into the action, Jaakko Heikkinen won a battle in the near corner, wheeled to the near circle, and fired a wrister that beat Nappier glove side to put DU up 1-0, sending the pro-Denver crowd into elation. Denver piled on midway through the period, as Bobby Brink drove towards the net from the far boards and found Cole Guttman in the slot, who slotted a one-timer just past Nappier’s pads and into the back of the net to give Denver a 2-0 advantage. As the period wore on, Denver nearly gained a 3-0 lead, but Kohen Olischefski’s blast from the top of the near circle beat Nappier’s blocker, but rang off the near post. Ohio State finally started to get their legs underneath towards the end of the first period, but Chrona managed to stop all five shots lobbed on frame by the Buckeyes in the first, and after twenty minutes of play, Denver held a 2-0 lead. Ohio State finally responded early in the second, when Carson Meyer got his team pumped up on a beautiful individual effort. Meyer deflected a cross-ice pass in the neutral zone into DU zone, and won the race to the puck along the near boards. Meyer then zoomed to the net, and executed a brilliant spin-o-rama at the bottom of the near circle that snuck through Chrona’s five-hole and pulled OSU within a goal. However, just minutes later, Gustaf Westlund was called for cross-checking, and after a short review, the refs determined that it warranted a five-minute major for checking from behind. With the extended man advantage, the Pioneers peppered Nappier with seven shots on frame, but Nappier kept the Buckeyes in the game, stopping all seven shots, and when OSU regained full strength, the score remained 2-1. The score remained the same the rest of the way in the second period, and after forty minutes of play, DU held a one-goal lead. Bolstered by their penalty kill, Ohio State pressed for the equalizer in the third, but Chrona would prove to be a difficult netminder to solve. In the first thirteen minutes of the third period, Chrona stopped 12 shots on frame. But with just under seven minutes to play, Wyatt Ege proved an unlikely hero for the Buckeyes. Ege pinched in the offensive zone, and pushed the puck towards the net from the near boards. The puck appeared to be going wide, but then took a deflection off a DU blueliner’s skate at the top of the crease that snuck through Chrona’s five hole, tying the game at 2-2 late in the third period. It looked like Ohio State was headed towards another overtime game as the clock wound down towards all zeroes. But with just over a minute to play, Ronnie Hein dumped the puck into the DU zone, and Quinn Preston won the race for the puck in the far corner. Preston skated behind the DU net, and flipped a pass into the slot intended for Hein in the slot. However, Hein’s stick was lifted just before he was able to control the puck, and the puck trickled out to Grant Gabriele at the point. Gabriele wasted little time, lining up a slapper that flew through the traffic in the slot and past the screened Chrona to give OSU a 3-2 lead with little time remaining. DU stormed the OSU net in the final seconds, but were unable to get the puck past Nappier by the time the buzzer sounded, and the Ohio State Buckeyes earned a 3-2 victory over Denver to capture the West Regional title and a spot in the Frozen Four.

[klbaum1077]

West Regional Final – Loveland

#2 Denver –v. #4 – Ohio State
The second seeded Denver Pioneers met up with the fourth seeded Ohio State Buckeyes this evening in Loveland for the West Regional Final, with a spot in the Frozen Four up for grabs. The Pioneers again tabbed Magnus Chrona to start in goal, while the Buckeyes stayed with Tommy Nappier between the pipes. Perhaps showing some heavy legs from their overtime victory the day before, Ohio State started slow, and Denver made them pay. Just over five minutes into the action, Jaakko Heikkinen won a battle in the near corner, wheeled to the near circle, and fired a wrister that beat Nappier glove side to put DU up 1-0, sending the pro-Denver crowd into elation. Denver piled on midway through the period, as Bobby Brink drove towards the net from the far boards and found Cole Guttman in the slot, who slotted a one-timer just past Nappier’s pads and into the back of the net to give Denver a 2-0 advantage. As the period wore on, Denver nearly gained a 3-0 lead, but Kohen Olischefski’s blast from the top of the near circle beat Nappier’s blocker, but rang off the near post. Ohio State finally started to get their legs underneath towards the end of the first period, but Chrona managed to stop all five shots lobbed on frame by the Buckeyes in the first, and after twenty minutes of play, Denver held a 2-0 lead. Ohio State finally responded early in the second, when Carson Meyer got his team pumped up on a beautiful individual effort. Meyer deflected a cross-ice pass in the neutral zone into DU zone, and won the race to the puck along the near boards. Meyer then zoomed to the net, and executed a brilliant spin-o-rama at the bottom of the near circle that snuck through Chrona’s five-hole and pulled OSU within a goal. However, just minutes later, Gustaf Westlund was called for cross-checking, and after a short review, the refs determined that it warranted a five-minute major for checking from behind. With the extended man advantage, the Pioneers peppered Nappier with seven shots on frame, but Nappier kept the Buckeyes in the game, stopping all seven shots, and when OSU regained full strength, the score remained 2-1. The score remained the same the rest of the way in the second period, and after forty minutes of play, DU held a one-goal lead. Bolstered by their penalty kill, Ohio State pressed for the equalizer in the third, but Chrona would prove to be a difficult netminder to solve. In the first thirteen minutes of the third period, Chrona stopped 12 shots on frame. But with just under seven minutes to play, Wyatt Ege proved an unlikely hero for the Buckeyes. Ege pinched in the offensive zone, and pushed the puck towards the net from the near boards. The puck appeared to be going wide, but then took a deflection off a DU blueliner’s skate at the top of the crease that snuck through Chrona’s five hole, tying the game at 2-2 late in the third period. It looked like Ohio State was headed towards another overtime game as the clock wound down towards all zeroes. But with just over a minute to play, Ronnie Hein dumped the puck into the DU zone, and Quinn Preston won the race for the puck in the far corner. Preston skated behind the DU net, and flipped a pass into the slot intended for Hein in the slot. However, Hein’s stick was lifted just before he was able to control the puck, and the puck trickled out to Grant Gabriele at the point. Gabriele wasted little time, lining up a slapper that flew through the traffic in the slot and past the screened Chrona to give OSU a 3-2 lead with little time remaining. DU stormed the OSU net in the final seconds, but were unable to get the puck past Nappier by the time the buzzer sounded, and the Ohio State Buckeyes earned a 3-2 victory over Denver to capture the West Regional title and a spot in the Frozen Four.

Revenge for last year in Fargo

[Slap Shot]

Re: 2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

Northeast Regional Final – Worcester

#1 – Cornell v. #2 – Boston College
With a spot in the Frozen Four in Detroit on the line, the top seeded Cornell Big Red matched up with the second seeded Boston College Eagles in the Northeast Regional Final in Worcester. Matthew Galajda, who has appeared in every Cornell game this season, took his spot in net for the Big Red, while Spencer Knight again got the nod from Coach York to start in net for the Eagles. The opening minutes were tense, with both sides weighing the other, and the puck largely spending time in the neutral zone. Cornell had the game’s first great opportunity midway through the period when Morgan Barron tipped the puck out of the Cornell zone and past a pinching Eagle blueliner, and skated in on a 1 on 1 into the Eagles zone. Barron beat the BC defender to the outside along the near boards, and zoomed to the crease, but Knight gloved Barron’s wrister that was otherwise destined for the top shelf. The Eagles first great chance came after Sam Malinski was called for tripping and BC went to the powerplay. However, Galajda swatted away each of BC’s four shots on goal with the man advantage. As the horn sounded ending the first period, the score remained 0-0. Both sides played much looser in the second, and just over seven minutes into the middle frame, Yanni Kaldis rocketed home a slapshot from the point that beat Knight and gave the Big Red a 1-0 lead. BC would counter with just over eight minutes to play in the period, when Alex Newhook danced into the slot and lasered a wrister past Galajda’s blocker to knot the game at 1-1. With time winding down in the second period, Boston College took their first lead of the game when David Cotton’s wrister from the far circle was stopped by Galajda, but the rebound was kicked right to Matt Boldy at the top of the crease, who jammed the puck between Galajda’s pads and into the back of the net to put BC up 2-1. The Eagles kept their one-goal advantage in the waning seconds of the middle frame, and after two periods, BC led Cornell 2-1. Cornell pushed hard for the equalizer early in the third period, and earned a powerplay when Luke McInnis was called for hauling down Barron behind the BC net. Cornell had several grade A opportunities, but Knight stymied the Big Red over and over again, including a beautiful glove save on Tristan Mullin’s wrister from the bottom of the far circle that looked certain to tie the game. While the powerplay expired without Cornell finding the back of the net, the Big Red continued to dominate possession in the BC zone. However, with just over eight minutes to play in the third period, Yanni Kaldis pinched in at the far boards to keep the puck in, but Jack McBain pushed the puck out into the neutral zone, leading to a 2 on 1 with Aapeli Rasanen. McBain fed the puck to Rasanen at the top of the circles, and Rasanen dished it back to McBain at the bottom of the far circle, and McBain’s one-timer trickled through Galajda to put BC up 3-1. Cornell continued to mount pressure to try to get back in striking distance but Knight was simply too good. Knight stopped all 15 shots on goal that the Big Red fired on net in the third period, and as the horn sounded to end the third period, the Eagles stormed the ice to celebrate their spot in the Frozen Four, thanks to a 3-1 victory over the Big Red in the Northeast Regional Final.

/The fat kid from Simpsons that points

[Ralph Baer]

Re: 2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

Congrats to Boston College on winning the Belt.

                   Current Holder         Next Defense
The Belt           Boston College         Minnesota State or Penn State 04/10/2020
The Belt Alt 3x3   Penn State             Minnesota State 03/29/2020
AHC Belt           Sacred Heart           next season
B1G Belt           Penn State             04/12/2020 at earliest
ECAC Belt          Cornell                next season
HEA Belt           Massachusetts Lowell   next season
NCHC Belt          North Dakota           next season
WCHA Belt          Bemidji State          next season
Ivy Belt           Cornell                next season
New England Belt   Massachusetts Lowell   next season
Connecticut Belt   Sacred Heart           next season
Massachusetts Belt Boston College         04/10/2020 at earliest
Michigan Belt      Michigan Tech          next season
Minnesota Belt     Minnesota              Next season
D II Play up Belt  Bemidji State          next season
D II P u Alt SO    American International next season
D III Play up Belt Rensselaer             next season
Play up Belt       Rensselaer             next season

Corrections are always appreciated.

[Ralph Baer]

Re: 2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

From USCHO https://www.uscho.com/2020/03/28/sim...als-on-sunday/

[Ralph Baer]

Re: 2020 NCAA Hockey Tournament - What If: A Simulation of the 2019-2020 Postseason

Aw come on first we lose and then the #notmyflagship wins. How to wreck a good Sat evening.

(Even if I know Clarkson still sucks)

UML is still alive at eLynah http://elf.elynah.com/read.php?1,228237 and plays UND on Sunday.

[mookie1995]

USCHO article about yesterday's games. https://www.uscho.com/2020/03/27/sim...es-cornell-bc/

The beginning makes this sound like it was USCHO's idea, not FS23's.

Why yes it does...