NCAA Tournament Takes Day 2: Two OT thrillers in Worcester; two ugly games in Allentown

A brief recap of today’s NCAA tournament games:

No. 6 Minnesota 4, No. 11 UMass Minutemen 3(OT) (Worcester regional)

WORCESTER, Mass. — Ask any true college-hockey head and they'd tell it to you plain: This promised to be the game of the day, and perhaps the weekend.

It did not disappoint. From the outset, the game was fast, demanding, hard-hitting, and played at a high level. Plenty of chances at both ends, and so even that shots were routinely tied — including right up to the game-winner from Ben Meyers at 8:31 of overtime, following a big push. In the end, goals were 4-3, shots on goal were 24-23, faceoffs were 36-36.

Ben Meyers (NCAA FA) finishes the give-and-go play for the overtime winner, sending @GopherHockey to the regional final.

Aaron Huglen (#LetsGoBuffalo) with the assist. pic.twit