COLLEGE HOCKEY UPDATE: Today’s post serves as a continuation of yesterday’s post.

COLLEGE HOCKEY UPDATE FEATURED PLAYER

Last Saturday night Michigan State had huge help from its junior left winger Issac Howard, of Hudson, WI., who scored the third period game-winning goal, leading his team to its 1-0 win over Notre Dame Saturday night at Michigan State. The 5’10” 181lb junior is first on his team in goals scored with twenty-four (tied for third in the country), is first on his team in assists, with twenty-three, and was just named conference player of the year in the Big Ten.  Last season he was tenth on the team in goals scored, with eight, and first in assists, with twenty-eight.  Playing his freshman year at Minnesota-Duluth he was tied for fifth in goals scored, with six, and was tied for fifth in assists, with eleven.  He was drafted in the first round with the thirty-first pick of the 2022 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Last Saturday night Michigan State had its hands full at home in Lansing, Michigan, despite having all the momentum in the game.  While they out-shot Notre Dame 17-9 in the first, and 19-5 in the second, the game was scoreless at the end of two.  Credit great work in the net by Notre Dame goalie Owen Say, who blocked all 36 of those shots, including surviving 3.75 power plays in those two frames.  Notre Dame committed a hooking penalty with 1:28 remaining in the second, and survived the first eighty-eight seconds of their fourth penalty, carrying thirty-two seconds of it into the third.  Michigan State won the third period face-off and cycled the puck into the Michigan State zone, getting the puck to Isaac Howard, who charged forward, and at the blue line passed to teammate Charlie Stramel at the right point, as Howard skated down to right side of the net.  Stramel skated into the right side face-off circle and started to break into the slot, when two Notre Dame defenders collapsed on him, with one of them knocking the puck towards the right side board.  Stramel reached over and tipped the puck back up to teammate Matt Bagsall at the point, as Howard was skating to help out at the right circle.  Bagsall eyed teammate Karsen Dorwart in open ice, and passed to him at the left top of the left side face-off circle, pulling all Notre Dame bodies and eyes in that direction.  Dorwart eyed Howard skating to the left top of the right circle and zipped the puck to him in open ice, and Howard one-timed it off of the right side pipe and in for the night’s only goal, the game winner.  Pretty slick stuff to watch !  Notre Dame goalie Owen Say ended the night blocking 45 of 46 shots.  Michigan State, 25-6-4 and ranked #1 advanced to host #9 Ohio State this Saturday night in the Big Ten Conference Championship at 4:30pm Pacific Time, game on the Big Ten sports channel.

SUPER BRIEF, CONDENSED VIEW OF TOURNAMENT ACTION

Atlantic Hockey

Final two teams play single game for championship Saturday night at 4:00pm Pacific Time.

#22 Bentley University at #19 College of The Holy Cross

Big Ten

Final two teams play single game for championship Saturday night at 4:30pm Pacific Time, on Big Ten sports channel.

#9 Ohio State University at #1 Michigan State University

CCHA

Final two teams play single game for championship tonight at 5:05pm Pacific Time.

#25 University of St. Thomas at #15 Mankato State University

ECAC

Down to three teams.

Semifinal #1 at 1:00pm Pacific Time today in Lake Placid, N.Y. result

#21 Cornell University 3,  #12 Quinnipiac University 2 in OT

Semifinal #2 at 4:00pm Pacific Time today in Lake Placid, N.Y.

#24 Dartmouth College vs. #18 Clarkson University

#21 Cornell faces Dartmouth/Clarkson winner Saturday night at 2:00pm Pacific Time in Lake Placid N.Y.

Hockey East

Now down to final two teams.

Results of yesterday/last night’s games.

#8 Boston University 2, #7 University of Connecticut 5

#27 Northeastern University 3, #4 University of Maine 4

Final two teams play single game for championship tonight at 4:30pm Pacific Time in Boston, on NESN+

#7 University of Connecticut vs #4 University of Maine

NCHC

Down to three teams.

Semifinal #1 at 1:00pm Pacific Time today in St. Paul, MN., on CBS Sports Channel result

#6 University of Denver 4, #11 Arizona State University 2

Semifinal #2 at 4:30pm Pacific Time today in St. Paul, MN., on CBS Sports Channel.

#17 University of North Dakota vs. #3 Western Michigan University

#6 Denver faces North Dakota/Western Michigan winner Saturday night at 5:35pm Pacific Time in St.Paul MN., on CBS sports Channel.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT —

NCAA Tournament Brackets out to you Monday night via email.

This provides the top twenty teams, rankings, and records in Monday’s Poll: