North Dakota Edges Wisconsin In Thrilling Frozen Four Semifinal

North Dakota Edges Wisconsin In Thrilling Frozen Four Semifinal...

The University of North Dakota defeated Wisconsin 3-2 in overtime Thursday night, advancing to the NCAA men's hockey championship game. The Frozen Four semifinal matchup between the longtime rivals drew national attention as Wisconsin sought revenge for last year's tournament loss.

Sophomore forward Dane Montgomery scored the game-winner 8:14 into overtime at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The victory sends North Dakota to its first national title game since 2016, while Wisconsin's season ends in heartbreaking fashion.

This rivalry matchup is trending today as college hockey fans debate whether the referees missed a potential Wisconsin penalty in overtime. Social media erupted after a possible tripping call went uncalled moments before North Dakota's winning goal.

Wisconsin coach Tony Granato told reporters: "It's tough to swallow when you feel the game could have gone differently." North Dakota coach Brad Berry praised his team's resilience after blowing a 2-0 third-period lead.

The championship game airs Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2, with North Dakota facing either Boston College or Michigan. Ticket resale prices for the final have already doubled since Thursday's dramatic finish.

College hockey analysts note this marks the third straight year these programs have met in the NCAA tournament. Wisconsin won the 2024 meeting before North Dakota took the last two, adding fuel to one of college hockey's most intense rivalries.

Minnesota sports bars reported record crowds for Thursday's game, with many establishments staying open past closing time to accommodate overtime viewers. The matchup drew the highest Frozen Four semifinal TV ratings since 2019.