While Stars prospect Rhett Gardner and the University of North Dakota fell in double overtime to Boston University in the opening round of the NCAA West Regional, fellow Dallas draftee Riley Tufte and the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs edged BU in an overtime thriller of their own to advance to Chicago and the Frozen Four.
In his lone game on the NCAA stage this season, Gardner tallied once on three shots for North Dakota. He beat BU’s Bobo Carpenter to the front of the net, taking a pass from the boards around goalie Jake Oettinger and tucking it home to open the scoring.
Great extermination by the Gardner. pic.twitter.com/wMADym60mw
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) March 24, 2017
Tufte notched an assist in the Bulldogs’ opening-round win over Ohio State, then added another in the regional final to help UMD move on.
The boys are going to the frozen 4! Thanks to all the fans who came out to support us. #chitown #GoDogs ???? pic.twitter.com/wvhVwlQZtl
— Riley Tufte (@rileytufte27) March 26, 2017
The Bulldogs will meet Harvard in the national semifinals on April 6 at 5 p.m. CT. The game, which will be held at the United Center, will be shown on ESPN2.
System Update
Gavin Bayreuther
Texas Stars (AHL)
Season stats: 5 GP, 1 G, 1 A, Even
Bayreuther had an assist on a Julius Honka goal in the Stars’ 4-3, overtime win over Tuscon March 22. The goal might have provided a glimpse into Dallas’ future, as touted prospect Denis Gurianov tallied the other helper on the play. Bayreuther was held scoreless in Texas’ last series against Stockton.
Chris Martenet
Ottawa 67s (OHL)
Season stats (With LDN): 27 GP, 1 G, 5 A, +10
Season stats (With OTT): 31 GP, 4 G, 7 A, +2
After a 6-2 loss to open the 67s’ series against Mississauga in which Martenet was held off the scoresheet, the 6-foot-7 defenseman chipped in an assist to help Ottawa draw even with a 4-0 win in game two. Ottawa and a pointless Martenet fell to Mississauga in last night’s game three, and game four is set for tomorrow in Ottawa.
Nicholas Caamano
Flint Firebirds (OHL)
Season stats: 70 GP, 35 G, 32 A, -6
Caamano maintained his point-per-game pace through the first three tilts of the Firebirds’ playoff series against Sault Ste. Marie, which the Greyhounds lead 2-1. Caamano assisted on one goal in the series opener, a 5-2 loss, then had two helpers in Flint’s only win in game two before being held scoreless in a game-three defeat. Game four is set for Wednesday at Flint’s Dort Federal Event Center.
Ondrej Vala
Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Season stats: 63 GP, 11 G, 15 A, +10
Vala didn’t register a point in Kamloops’ series-opening loss at Kelowna, but scored a late goal in a 3-2 loss in game two and was a plus-1 in a 4-1 victory in game three. Kamloops hosts game four tonight.
John Nyberg
Frolunda HC (SHL)
Season stats: 52 GP, 7 G, 8 A, +7
Nyberg and Frolunda forced a game seven against Skelleftea, winning games five and six after losing game four to put themselves on the brink of elimination. Nyberg, still without a point in the matchup, will get a final chance to get on the board in the series in tonight’s decisive game.
Roope Hintz
HIFK (Liiga)
Season stats: 47 GP, 19 G, 11 A, +10
After scoring in HIFK’s series opener against TPS, Hintz has gone pointless in the last three games of the second-round series, which is tied at two games a side. The series continues tonight.
Landon Bow
Idaho Steelheads (ECHL)
Season stats (TEX): 16 GP, 3.17 GAA, .894 SV%
Season stats (ID): 24 GP, 2.18 GAA, .930 SV%
While Bow’s stats in 16 games with the Texas Stars left much to be desired, the goaltender has performed well in his time with Idaho. His 2.18 goals against average leads the ECHL, and his .930 save percentage is good for second in the league. Idaho begins its last home series of the regular season tonight, and can clinch a playoff berth with a win or a Missouri loss to Allen.
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