BUFFALO-Minnesota Duluth scored two empty-net goals in the final minute of the third period to down Providence 4-1 on Thursday in the semifinal round of the Frozen Four in Buffalo.
The Bulldogs will take on the winner of Denver and UMass on Saturday for the national hockey championship.
Duluth will be looking for its second-straight title and will be playing in its third-straight national title game.
Justin Richards scored twice for Duluth. The Bulldogs also received goals from Dylan Samberg and Billy Excel.
The Bulldogs outshot Providence, which was a No. 4 seed at the start of the tournament, 36-29.
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Minnesota Duluth put the puck in the back of the Providence net twice in the opening 20 minutes of a scoreless opening period.
Exell put the first puck across the Friars' goal line 10:15 in, but the whistle blew well before the puck went in and video review confirmed the call.
The second disallowed goal was much more controversial.
UMD freshman wing Cole Koepke scored off a rebound at the 16:40 mark of the first period after camping at the top of the crease. It put him in the perfect position to put away the initial shot by sophomore defenseman Mikey Anderson.
The play was originally called a goal on the ice, however, after a six-minute video review by the Atlantic Hockey officiating crew of Chris Ciamaga and Mike Schubert, it was determined Koepke interfered with Providence goaltender Hayden Hawkey.
The review drew substantial boos from the crowd, not only after the call but as the review dragged on for several minutes.
Excel scored the game winner at 10:07 on the third, aided by assists from Kobe Roth and Samberg. That 2-1 lead held until the Bulldogs scored two empty-netters in the final minute.
