ST. PAUL, Minn.-Just another ho-hum Notre Dame hockey game.
The Fighting Irish used a goal with 5.2 seconds left ot beat Michigan 4-3 in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals on Thursday night in the Xcel Energy Center.
It was the fifth consecutive game that Notre Dame has won in the last 31 seconds of regulation or in overtime.
It will set up a national championship game against Minnesota Duluth at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the Xcel Energy Center.
Minnesota Duluth is looking for its second national title (2011). Notre Dame is looking for its first.
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On the winning goal, Notre Dame forward Cam Morrison got as tep on a Michigan defender on the left wing and made a pass to set up Jake Evans, who beat Michigan goalie Hayden Lavigne five-hole.
It was the second goal of the game for Evans.
Notre Dame beat Michigan Tech in overtime to open the NCAA tournament, then beat Providence on a goal with 27 seconds left in the third period to reach the Frozen Four for a second-straight year.
Notre Dame, the only team to win its conference's regular season and postseason titles, will now have a chance to add the ultimate crown to the list.
The Fighting Irish had to rally from a two-goal deficit to win the semifinal game.
Michigan built the lead on goals by its potent top line.
Tony Calderone scored on a wrist shot from the left circle at 8:19 of the opening frame, beating Notre Dame star goalie Cale Morris on the short side.
The Wolverines added to the lead just 17 seconds into the middle frame when Dexter Dancs threw a shot from a bad angle that slightly deflected off of a Notre Dame defenseman's shoulder and into the net.
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But the Fighting Irish stormed back to tie it before the end of the period.
Andrew Oglevie scored just nine seconds into a power play at 2:41 of the second, burying a point shot. And Jake Evans tied it at 6:20, burying a feed from defenseman Jordan Gross.
Notre Dame took its first lead of the game on a goal by Cal Burke at 1:35 of the third period, but Michigan answered with a tying goal by Michael Pastujov with just 5:22 left in regulation.
