{"id":128064,"date":"2021-04-10T21:57:14","date_gmt":"2021-04-11T02:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/?p=128064"},"modified":"2022-03-31T12:06:00","modified_gmt":"2022-03-31T17:06:00","slug":"dazzling-lagunov-short-handed-goal-solidifies-umass-lead-en-route-to-national-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/2021\/04\/10\/dazzling-lagunov-short-handed-goal-solidifies-umass-lead-en-route-to-national-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"Dazzling Lagunov short-handed goal solidifies UMass’ lead en route to national championship"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UMass’ Philip Lagunov scores a short-handed goal for a 3-0 lead against St. Cloud State on Saturday (photo: Jim Rosvold).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

PITTSBURGH — Goals have not been easy to come by for Philip Lagunov in his senior season at UMass.<\/p>\n

But a short-handed dangle and finish Saturday in the second period of the NCAA championship game gave him a highlight moment and a big contribution to the Minutemen’s first national title.<\/p>\n

Lagunov’s goal five minutes into the second period was a backbreaker to St. Cloud State’s hopes at a rally from a two-goal deficit.<\/p>\n

The Minutemen kept pouring it on for a 5-0 victory but Lagunov’s goal for a 3-0 advantage was critical for its timing and its style.<\/p>\n

As for remembering it? Let’s just say Lagunov’s puck-handling skills were better than his recollection.<\/p>\n

“It happened really fast,” Lagunov said. “I blacked out.”<\/p>\n

Lagunov caught up to the puck just outside the St. Cloud State logo in the neutral zone of the PPG Paints Arena ice and had Huskies defender Nick Perbix tracking back at the middle of the blue line.<\/p>\n

After entering the zone and seeing Perbix coming at him to dislodge the puck, Lagunov hit the brakes and eluded the St. Cloud player’s attempted right-shoulder check. The puck went between Perbix’s stick and skates, and Lagunov collected it again on the other side, at the inside of the right circle.<\/p>\n

That wasn’t the only nice move the senior center had in his toolkit. The right-handed shooter made a slight fake on his forehand and went to his backhand as backchecking St. Cloud State forward Nolan Walker missed a poke at the puck from behind.<\/p>\n

Lagunov’s backhand shot squeezed under goaltender David Hrenak’s left arm and bounced over the goal line for the first short-handed goal allowed by the Huskies since Feb. 21, 2020.<\/p>\n

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WHAT A DANGLE ??<\/p>\n

Philip Lagunov gives @UMassHockey<\/a> a 3-0 lead!!#SCTop10<\/a> #NationalChampionship<\/a> x ?? @espn<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pnxNgtfQQw<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 11, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n