Duluth stumbled out of the gate, losing a weekend to old rival Minnesota, but then reeled off eight consecutive victories, including a sweep of then #1 Notre Dame, to reclaim their top position.

The Bulldogs went through a bit of a rough patch in the middle of the season, going more than two months (including the winter break) without sweeping a weekend.

With UMD going 1-for-10 on the power play and needing overtime to finish off a team that was 13 games under .500, there was little doubt that it would be up to Shepard and the defense to carry them through the rest of the playoffs.

Cloud coughed up the puck in their own during the power play and could only watch as Tanner Laderoute found a wide-open Billy Exell in the slot who tied the game on only his second goal of the season.

Near the mid-way point of the second overtime, Nick Swaney ended the game in dramatic fashion and gave Duluth the conference championship.

Cloud State remained as the #1 team in spite of the loss, Duluth was able to rise up to #2 after winning the NCHC title.

After coming up empty on their fourth power play opportunity of the game and will less than 5 minutes remaining in the contest it appeared that UMD's luck was about to run out.

The national semifinal too saw UMD surrendering one power play marker but Billy Excell's third goal of the season proved to be the game-winner over Providence.

The championship game pitted Duluth against Massachusetts, who possessed the #2 offense in the nation as well as the Hobey Baker Award winner, Cale Makar.