Minnesota hockey advances to nat'l championship on buzzer beater

Justin Holl couldn’t have picked a better time to score his first goal of the season.

With just 0.6 seconds remaining, Holl ripped a shot that beat Zane Gothberg glove slide and just inside the right post to give Minnesota a thrilling 2-1 victory over North Dakota in the NCAA hockey semifinals at the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night.

"For me, it was more relief than joy," Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said. "But I'm happy for our kids that they found a way to win."

The Gophers were in the midst of killing off a power play when an offensive chance developed with just about nine seconds remaining. Holl jumped up on the rush and buried his shot, which helped Minnesota reach its first final since 2003.

Minnesota will move on to face Union College for the national championship on Saturday. Union dispatched powerhouse Boston College, 5-4, earlier in the night.

-- Tim Riday, CSNPhilly.com