Michigan vs Minnesota Duluth | NCAA College Hockey | Highlights - March 29, 2026

From last year to this year, meeting here in a regional final, the Michigan Wolverines, the number one overall seed. Taking on UMD, who lost in the NCHC final last Saturday in overtime to Denver. The Maize and Blue, Michigan Wolverines, and the UMD Bulldogs. And the regional final is underway, and the puck has been dropped. Two assists in their win against Bentley on Friday. Hughes across the line, shot, glove, save. Adam Guyon hangs on. He does their work in the neutral zone. They are surgical. They do a great job of not letting you through. Michigan's defense continues to jump up in the rush. They've got to be careful on turnovers. There was a turnover, but Michigan reclaims the puck, and Nick Boldenhauer speeds through center. Will Horkoff had that pass broken up, and a loose puck jumped on by Cole McKinney, a Sharks second round draft pick, last June. Lays it back to the point, through traffic, score! Robertson from the point, may have been tipped in front, and Michigan just over three minutes in. 1-0 Wolverines! I think you're right. I think it may have been tipped by Will Horkoff, the sophomore. He's going to get his 25th of this season. Good shot in on the point, but a terrific redirect as the big Horkoff's in front. The shot comes through, just a quick deflection. Oh, that's a beauty of a tip. No chance for Guyon. Michigan up one zip. Robertson doing the right thing and firing that at the net. Traffic in front, and that's how... ...in the Big Ten final last Saturday. Here is Hanson, the defenseman, hits the brakes. Plays it back to the line, deflected just wide. It was T.J. Hughes in front of his net minder on a shot. They have a big responsibility for this team offensively. Face-off win, saved by Guyon, as Nick Moldenhauer with a drive. Here comes that top line for UMD, and Shaga Bagus stood up by Luca Fantilli. Well, that was all because of the track. Michigan did a great job of tracking back. Moldenhauer sprinted back through the middle and covered beautifully. Bibby, pivots, drops it off. Brady Cleveland from the wall, center, shot! It blocked in front. Terrific defensive play, getting in the way of the shot by Adam Valentini. And a big hit along the boards that Valentini was the recipient of. That's a big fellow, Brady Cleveland, the Detroit... Aren't a part of this great sophomore class for UMD. Keenan Draper off the wall, stick handles in, covered, and hanging on to the blue paint by Adam Guyon. Fires a shot that hit a stick, rebound picked up. Perron, over to Hayes, goes cross-ice to the corner. Malcolm Spence back to the line. UMD down the ice. Well, you can see why they're penalty kills, one of the top penalty kills in the country. Pressuring high, not letting Perron get comfortable, and then when they get in tight, they close them off. Excellent execution. Over 89% for UMD on their penalty kill this year. Second in college hockey. Mullen keeps it in the zone. Cross-ice pass, one-timer! 2-0, Michigan! Well, when you're aggressive on the penalty kill, you can leave guys open, but Michigan has to make picture-perfect passes. And this was an unbelievable pass by Nick Moldenhauer, right on the tape to Adam Valentini. Watch this quick saucer pass. Oh, that's unbelievable. Cross-ice all the way through. That is a wicked pass and one-timer. If Valentini doesn't get that shot off as pure as he does, it doesn't go in. He catches it perfect. If he dusts it off, no chance. Huge goal for Michigan. They are so good on the power play. Power play goal. Paper into the zone. Trying to center it for a driving Josh Earnesty. Earnesty, a turnaround shot from the corner that goes through the slot. Then there is Yuriy Slapkovsky on your team. He's having a year. And another clear by Michigan. As UMD trying to get the power play set up and the penalty killers changing for Brandon Nerato and the Wolverines. Ty Hanson. And a turnover. Short-handed. Cutting it. Scoring, Michigan. Terrible turnover. And Garrett Schiffke with a short-handed goal. The 11th shorty for Michigan this year. Well, when you're casual with this drop pass, it's an easy way to jump if you're a forward and you know he's looking back. He telegraphed it. And Schiffke just pokes it around Shagabe. And he goes forehand, backhand, five-hole. Huge goal for his 14th of the year. Short-handeds are just back breakers. Oh, man, I love that move. Forehand, backhand, five-hole. Beautiful. Graydon Seatman walks the line. Hunter Anderson tries to tuck it in down low. Gets knocked down, but a good play. 25 seconds to go in the UMD power play. Drop pass for Truman. Now here's Anderson cutting off the wall. Center. Shot high and wide. Zamplant had a good look. Upwind for the Bulldogs. Seatman through traffic. Blocked in front. Now jumping on it is Seatman for UMD. Scout Truman. Bouncing puck at the line. Gaffney. Top of the circle. Down low for Anderson. Here's Pionk looking for a lane. Fans on his shot. Shot blocked. And it pops off the back glass from our play unit on right now for Scott Sandlin. Max Plant emerges with a puck. Center. Shot. Hit the pipe. Ty Hanson. One-timer plant. Diving. Kovic. Kept alive, though, by UMD. Here's Shagabay out high. Off for Max Plant. Dangles it down low. And a backhand that goes on through. Hanson. Here's Max Plant. Goes cross-eyes to his brother, Zam. Shot. High and wide from Hanson. Fifteen seconds left in the power play. Here is Shishke. Wolverines countering. Malcolm Spence hits the brakes. Goes cross-eyes off the bench. Shot saved by Guyon from shock off the bench. And Guyon has him along the back wall by Hanson. And just trying to burn out the clock on this first period. In the first 20 minutes, an outstanding start. And the Michigan Wolverines a 3-0 lead. Two, which is going to be hard. Michigan has to find a way to keep up their energy. And Minnesota-Duluth has got to get a push here going. Across-eyes. Pass leading to a breakaway. Max Plant cuts in. Plant hit the post. Out of this hole. Rolling puck leads to an on-man rush. Back the other way. Shot saved. Rebound. Another save by Adam Guyon. Great chance for Michigan. Back the other way. So much for a slow start to the period. Grade-A chances for both UMD and Michigan in the first minute of the second period. Well, Fantilli loses control of the puck. And Plant again. Dumped by Graydon Seidman. Goes cross-eyes for Brady Cleveland for UMD. Shot saved with a glove. And Ivan Kovic hangs on. And now Duke comes down the wall. Defenseman from Michigan lost an edge in the corner. Duke lost an edge. Here comes UMD on the counter. Centering pass. Anderson on the doorstep. Fans, it's loose and it blew paint. And it comes on through over toward the corner. They settled in after 20 minutes against Penn State. Took over the final two on Friday night. Anderson drives. And a save by Ivan Kovic. And Michigan gets it out of the zone. Adam Cleaver rips it right back in. Taken away. Keenan Draper centers. Cutting in Michigan. Earnestly centers. Draper missed the net. Great A chance for Michigan. Here is Ray O'Mullin plays it across. Walking in. Toe drag. Shot. And a save by Guyon. Loading up there is Moldenhauer for Michigan. Two shots on that power play is Max Plant out of the box. Zam Plant. Seidman a shot that missed the net. Chris Pierce at the line for UMD. Max Plant circles up high. Drops it off. Joey Pierce walks in. And that shot gets deflected up into the breaks. As UMD changing. And Bibby delayed as long as he could. Bibby hit the back. Backhands it low for Aiden Park. And Oilers draft pick Park. The Southern California native throws a shot on net. That gets leveled but covered by Guyon. Bulldogs just great kids. Love hockey. Love Minnesota Duluth. Tough angle shot off a wicked bounce. The net comes off the moorings. And they finally blow it dead as Michigan. As an unorthodox chance developed for the Wolverines. Adam Guyon moved from his left to right and kicked the post off here. As you see, the puck comes in off the board. Ten tournament last week. Beating Ohio State on home ice. Off the faceoff, Michael Hage. High and wide as he loaded up from the slot. He's doing it. Gets it around. Turnover. Cutting in Michigan. And stick handling and losing control off the bench was Jaden Perron. Now Hanson overskates the puck. And now Will Horkoff gets to its centers. Muskets shot. Hit the post. And a hand pass and play whistle down. But now Michigan hits iron. Michigan. Valentini carries it back the other way. Gets it to McKinney. And a backhand that just floats in and covered by Adam Guyon. Battle behind the net. Centering pass. Kick save. Kovic. And it's Seaton that missed the net. That's the save of the game right there. Max Plant had it on his tape. And Ivan Kovic came out beautifully with a kick save to pressure that. Great chance for the Bulldogs. Off the bench. Catch and a pass into the zone. Here's Schley. Battles along the wall with Cole McKinney. UMD comes away with it. Back to the line. Here's Aaron Pionk across. Pierce looking for traffic in front. And a kick save, Ivan Kovic. And the rolling puck over the board. The line. Ty Hanson. Off for Jason Shagabay. Trying to jam it into the doorstep. Harper-Bentz. And Michigan. Hanson off for Shagabay. Shagabay loads up. Hits a body in front. Trying to whack it out of midair was Harper-Bentz. Off to the corner. Tied up by Josh Earnesty. And that will do it for 40. Power play time. 32 seconds to start the third. It was a great opportunity on fresh ice to try to get the puck moving around and get some shots through. Max Plant battling for the puck and cleared down the ice by Josh Earnesty. Here comes Ty Hanson behind his own net. It's a power play unit. Second in the country for UMD. Zam Plant moves down the board. Centers losing an edge. And Plant, Max, colliding with his teammate, Harper-Bentz, and a clear for Michigan. And that will do it for the Shiske penalty. Zam Plant cuts back in. Centers. Shot. Score! Harper-Bentz puts UMD on the board. What a great play by Zam Plant on the wall here as he finds Harper-Bentz, the sophomore from Morehead, Minnesota, kind of streaking through the middle. Cuts to the outside and just a quick low stick side shot. Gorgeous goal for Minnesota-Duluth. This is exactly what they needed. Michigan gets tangled up defensively and Minnesota-Duluth makes them pay early in the period. Exactly what Coach Sandlin's team needed to start this period. Back to the zone, Ben Robertson, a puck that skips in on Adam Guyon who covers and a faceoff in front of the net minder for UMD. Sarkoff and Michigan looking to move out. Here comes Cole McKinney through center. McKinney across the line. Drags it and a backhand McKinney that had it roll off a stick. Centers! And it's pushed as Draper gets to it for Michigan. Hits the side of the cage. In front, pops! Josh Earnesty and a save by Guyon on the doorstep. Ball. Stick tied up. Good work by Malcolm Spence coming down. Trying to center it. Pass broken up. Here's Hanson. Top of the circle. Loads up and missed the net. Shot for the point. That hit Robertson in front. And now it's center ice in the neutral zone. Boy, Hanson had that top corner on that shot. If he hit it, it was in. Here comes Jayden Perron. Walks in. Perron. And then fan of the shot. Rebound score. Michigan counters back 4-1 Wolverines. Boy, he's something to watch, Jayden Perron. He's so calm and confident with the puck. When he gets time and space, he may be one of the most skilled guys in college hockey. Watch as he delays on this play. The diving Minnesota Duluth defenseman holds onto the puck, realizes it gets deflected, stays with it, and knocks it in the net. The puck gets deflected right there. He stays with it. Oh, what a play. Guyon, no chance as he was going for the pass. Hanson reaches back with a stick to deflect it. Turning at center. Out to the wing for Perron. It cuts wide. Hits the side of the net. Stood up high. Scout Truman. Center. Here's Anderson. A shot that blocks. Picked up down low. Save, Ivan Kovic. Malcolm Spence. The Rangers draft pick. Gets it down low. Keenan Draper in the corner. Turnaround shot to the net. Save as it got through to Jason Chagabay. Chagabay centers. Nobody home for the Bulldogs. Now UMD moving up. Seipman carries in the defenseman. Wrist shot. Save by Ivan Kovic. Ivan Kovic with a great save there, but no traffic. True connection for Conner with his Michigan team. They're trying to connect with Vegas. Up 4-1. Gloves. Save. And a shot from center ice off the stick of TJ Conner. Exits the zone. Cross-corner dump. Here's Shipski Spence. Shipski turns and shoots. Save by Guy. Leading their change. Go to Ray O'Mullin. Gloved down by Horkoff. And a turnover. Max Plant cutting it. Walks in. Plant. And it flutters in. And covering is Ivan Kovic. Great drive there by Max Plant to the middle. Off the turnover. On the wall. As the assistant captain. 51 points. Five in the relentless pursuit by Max Plant. Gets the man advantage for UMD. Here is Plant cutting in. Hit the back glass. And it caroms all the way down. Such a great nifty move he just made right there. Faking the pass and driving the net. Just missed the top blocker side corner. Ty Hanson drops it for Plant. Stretch pass for Zamplant. Feathers in front. Hands it. Score! Goal for Minnesota Duluth. Ty Hanson is 10th of the year. How good is Zamplant on these zone entries? Just perfect execution and pass into Hanson as he goes in with full speed into the zone. Stretch pass. And watch Zamplant again. Just so calm. Easy split pass. And Hanson buries it over the glove of Ivan Kovic. And Michigan's D gets split again. It's the second time that's happened in this period where they've been unable to control the speed of Minnesota Duluth. And Zaremba curls. Zaremba. Shot saved by Ivan Kovic. This hadn't come around yet for hockey. 2013-2014 was the first year. Think back for Cleaver. Cycles it low. Max Plant in the corner. Turnaround shot. And that gets to and covering is Ivan Kovic with Zamplant right on the doorstep. Minnesota Duluth trying to push. National Collegiate Hockey Conference. As they have won the last two, three of the last four, and seven of the last nine NCAA titles. It's been different teams for the most part. Right on the doorstep. Jamming it in on the side of the net. Scout Truman for UFD. A great battle in front of the net. Truman finds it. The senior from Lethbridge, Alberta. He buries it. A good opportunity here in front. Watch the fight for the loose puck. Anderson does a good job of getting it to the front of the net. Gaffney gets the shot through. And somehow, Scout Truman finds the puck on his stick. A bad tie up in front for Michigan. And Minnesota Duluth makes it a one-goal game. And Michigan's got to identify in front of the net a little better. And it looks like they're wondering. Michigan is discussing with the officials that this should be reviewed. I don't know what they would be reviewing, if it's goaltender interference or what. But Scout Truman hits it. Blocker saved by Ivan Kovic. He saw that one through traffic. Max Plantz, center shot. Saved by McAnson. A slot by slot shot. Blocked in front. Loose on the ice. Got to go for icing. 12.9 remaining. My word. What action. Sam Plantz trying to push it back. Picked up. Bouncing puck. Cleaver gets it. And he sends it the length of the ice. And Michigan hangs on to the Frozen Four. Michigan finds a way to get it done. What a push by Minnesota Duluth in the last ten minutes of this game. Incredible hockey. And Michigan and Brandon Mirado's team make it back to the Frozen Four. They find a way.