College Hockey Update:  Yesterday the early game of the Western Regional in Fargo, N.D., was another example of a team playing smart, opportunistic hockey that bent without yielding.  Ohio State had more offensive momentum in the game, badly out-shooting Denver in the first and third periods, and matching Denver in the second.  After nearly forty minutes of scoreless hockey, Lester Lancaster netted one for Denver, giving his team a 1-0 lead, with only a minute left in the second period.  And while Ohio State badly out-shot Denver in the third, the actual numbers tell a different story — Denver had only one shot, and they importantly held Ohio State to only five in the entire period.  The clampers were on.  Ohio added an exta attacker with two minutes to go, and Colin Staub found the empty net with a minute left in the game to make the final 2-0, Denver.  Denver goalie Filip Larsson earned the shutout, stopping all 24 shots on goal.  Denver advanced to the Western Regional Final and will face American International College tonight at 6:00pm Pacific Time on ESPNU.

This outcome is not an upset in our pool, as 32 out of 58 entrants picked Denver to win this game, vs. 25 for Ohio State.  One entry was submitted after the end of the second period of this game, and the pick was disallowed.

NOTRE DAME FIGHTS BACK TO BEAT CLARKSON

In the late game of the Northeast Regional in Manchester, N.H., yesterday, the team playing the smart, controlled, defensively-focused game did not prevail.  Marly Quince scored for Clarkson for the 1-0 lead with only three minutes left in the first, a period in which Notre Dame out-shot Clarkson 11-6.  Notre Dame kept the pressure on in the second, out-shooting Clarkson 11-7, and Colin Thiesen scored five minutes into the period to tie it at one apiece.  But Clarkson scored again only a minute later to retake the lead, 2-1.  The two played a scoreless game for the next thrirty-two minutes, when Bobby Nardella capped a third period in which Notre Dame fought back with a 9-5 shot advantage in the third.  The game ended tied 2-2 in regulation, sending the teams to OT.  Notre Dame again kept the pressure on in the fourth period, and out-shot Clarkson 7-4, culminating in a Cam Morrison goal sixteen minutes into the frame to give Notre Dame the 3-2 win.  Notre Dame advanced to the Northeast Regional Final and faces Massachusetts at 3:30pm Pacific Time today on ESPNU.

This outcome is not an upset in our pool as 29 of 58 entrants picked Notre Dame to win this game, and 29 picked Clarkson.  All 58 picks were allowed for this game.

Thats’s all for now.  Stay tuned, and go Terriers!

— Tom