The Gophers lost to Minnesota-Duluth 4-3 in overtime and 3-2 on Nov. 20-21 at Mariucci Arena. In both games Minnesota led 2-0.
In the first game, Travis Oleksuk scored the game-winner at 4:48 of overtime -- or 12 seconds from time expiring and the game ending in a tie. It was only the third goal Gophers goalie Alex Kangas had given up in 22 overtime games in his college career.
Mike Montgomery scored at 17:58 of third period for the deciding goal in the second game. It was the Gophers' first loss when leading after two periods since Michigan Tech beat Minesota on Nov. 30, 2007.
"That might have been the most frustrating weekend we've had all year, at least for me as a coach," Gophers coach Don Lucia said. "It kind of sums up our year up to this point. Friday night, I thought we were playing well. Give up a call maybe we shouldn't have to tie it, and then in overtime they score with eight or nine seconds to go.
"The next night, the same thing. We can't get that next goal to create a little bit more separation. And then one goes off our skate with two minutes to go in the game for the game-winner. That seemed to be our first half.
"The big thing is, we have lost three in a row [to UMD] all by one goal going back to the WCHA FInal Five last year," Lucia said. "They have been able to win that one-goal game. We got to find a way this time to go up there and win that one-goal game."
In the 2009 Final Five, UMD beat the Gophers 2-1 in the play-in game and that loss ended Minnesota's season.
