The Gophers men’s hockey team advanced to the finals of the NCAA West Regional with dominant 7-3 win over Robert Morris on Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center.

Minnesota will face either St. Cloud State or Notre Dame Sunday for a trip to the Frozen Four.

The Gophers shot out of the gates, but didn’t get on the board until senior forward Nate Condon struck first about 16 minutes into the game. Condon went coast-to-coast and scored with a quick snap shot from just inside the blue line.

Then the floodgates opened. 

Minnesota freshman defenseman Michael Brodzinski scored just more than a minute later and freshman forward Justin Kloos rounded out the first-period scoring with about 20 seconds left in the frame.

Gophers junior forward Kyle Rau again notched a score for his team about eight minutes into the second period. Robert Morris still managed to cut the defict to 4-2 goals with a pair of goals late in the period. 

Minnesota left no doubt in the third period as freshman forward Hudson Fasching stretched the lead to 5-2 early in the last period. Robert Morris scored soon after, but Condon and a sophomore defenseman Mike Reilly stuck late to put the game out of reach. 

This win helps the Gophers avenge a first-round loss to Yale last season.