Frank Nazar III, the No. 2 prospect in the Blackhawks system per THN's 2024 Future Watch, made a jaw-dropping pass to set up Gavin Brindley's back-breaking insurance goal in Michigan's 5-2 NCAA Tournament quarterfinal win over Michigan State on Sunday in Maryland Heights, Missouri.
Nazar and the Wolverines advance to the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota. They'll face top-seed Boston College on April 11 at the Xcel Energy Center.
The Wolverines had just taken a 3-2 lead on Dylan Duke's first of two goals of the game with 7:18 left in the third period. Duke burst around the Spartans' coverage on the right side, cut to the net and scored on sensational effort.
Nazar followed up with his own magic moments later.
Breaking down the left side at full speed, the right-handed shooting Nazar curled a pass behind his right leg and across to Brindley rushing down the slot. Brindley buried it just 12 seconds after Duke's score to put Michigan in charge 4-2.
"I had a play like that in the second period and I missed the pass," Nazar said. "So I was kind of visioning that in my head between periods. It ended up working out well. It was nice to get that one in the back of the net there."
Duke connected again with 2:19 left to ice it at the compact Centene Community Ice Center.
Nazar to Sign?
The Blackhawks drafted Nazar, a speedy suburban Detroit native, in the first round, 13th overall in 2022 after taking defenseman Kevin Korchinski with the seventh pick. Nazar has 17 goals and 41 points in 40 games.
The Blackhawks haven't said if they will sign Nazar, finishing his sophomore season, after the 2023-24 campaign. He played only 13 games as a freshman following hip surgery.
NCAA Season Ends for Moore and Rinzel
The collegiate season ended for Minnesota freshmen Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel, the No 1. and No. 4 prospects in the Chicago system per this year's Future Watch.
The Gophers lost 6-3 to Boston University on Saturday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the tournament quarterfinals after jumping out to an early 2-0 lead.
Moore, a speedy center, was drafted in the first round, 19th overall by the Blackhawks in 2023 after they took Connor Bedard with the top overall pick. Rinzel, 6-foot-4 defenseman, was selected in the first-round, 25th overall in 2022.
Both Twin Cities area products and roommates will return to Minnesota next season. Moore finished with nine goals and 24 assists in 38 games. Rinzel had two goals and 28 assists.
Celebrini Watch
BU’s freshman first line of Macklin Celebrini (three assists), Jack Harvey, and Shane Lachance (goal, assist apiece) combined for seven points in Saturday's game.
Celebrini, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL draft, upped his season totals to 32 goals and 32 assists in 37 games. As of Sunday, the Blackhawks were in 31st place in the NHL and had 13.5 % odds of winning the draft lottery —and the right to select Celebrini, a power forward who turns 18 on June 13.