By this time, we’re all looking ahead to the NCAA regionals next weekend, but there were some amazing things that took place in the conference tournaments this weekend that need to be revisited.
** Of the 19 games played, eight were shutouts. Four of those came in Saturday’s championship games, with Minnesota-Duluth, Yale, Boston University and Air Force blanking their opponents.
Think there’s a premium on goaltending this time of the year? That’s as good an indication as any.
** Half of the semifinal games played on Friday featured a goal scored with an extra attacker in the final 90 seconds.
Yale scored with 1:28 left to tie St. Lawrence, then claimed a 4-3 victory by scoring again 22 seconds later.
Northern Michigan tied Notre Dame with 1:23 left, but the Irish regained the lead 23 seconds later for a 2-1 victory.
Massachusetts-Lowell forced overtime by scoring with 20 seconds left, then beat Northeastern 3-2 in overtime.
Cornell scored with 25 seconds left to force overtime, then beat Princeton 4-3 in the extra session.
And RIT extended its game against Mercyhurst by scoring with 59 seconds left, but the Lakers advanced in overtime.
** My nomination for quote of the weekend came from St. Lawrence coach Joe Marsh after the Saints won a shootout to claim third place in the ECAC Hockey tourney.
It seems he’s not a fan of the format.
“It would’ve been just as meaningful to have [Princeton coach] Guy [Gadowsky] and I go out and have a quick round of canasta at center ice,” Marsh told reporters. “I think it’s preposterous. It isn’t hockey.”
