Miami University Redhawks mob Riley Barber after his OT game-winner. (Photo: Miami University)

Capitals prospects Riley Barber, Thomas DiPauli, and Austin Wuthrich all found their way on the scoresheet in the first games of the NCAA conference quarterfinals, each contributing to their teams’ upset wins. Miami beat St. Cloud State in a dramatic game, 4-3 in overtime, while Notre Dame convincingly defeated Boston College in the Holy War on Ice 7-2.

Barber’s Miami University found themselves in a tough spot after the completion of NCHC regular season. After a strong start to the season, Miami’s game fell apart and they finished last in the conference, 37th place in RPI rankings that determine who will make the NCAA tournament. In order to make the regional tournament that they will be hosting in Cincinnati, they needed a near miracle — a victory in the conference playoffs to receive one of six automatic bids.

Yesterday, they’ve made a first step, overcoming regular-season conference champions St. Cloud State in the first game of a road best-of-three series. Barber, the team’s goal-scoring leader, had two assists during a regulation in which Miami had and lost a one-goal lead four times. Their last goal, scored by Kevin Gravel, to force the OT came with just 0.1 seconds left on the clock. But Miami didn’t give up: Barber scored the game-winner in the overtime.

Barber’s assist on a shorthanded goal by Chris Joyaux is at 0:30. His assist Sean Kuraly’s goal is at the 1:00 mark. Barber’s OT game-winner is at 1:45.

The second game between Miami and SCSU will be played tonight at 8:07 PM ET and will be streamed live free on the NCHC site.

Two top-10 schools in the nation, Notre Dame and Boston College, faced off against each other in arguably the biggest match of the conference quarterfinals. Despite possessing a deadly offensive arsenal that includes three of the nation’s top six point scorers — Johnny Gaudreau, Bill Arnold, and Kevin Hayes — the Eagles couldn’t contain the deep forward corps of the Irish, who had to play Boston University in an additional qualifying game to make conference quarterfinals.

Thomas DiPauli, who played left wing on what was listed as ND’s fourth line recorded an assist on the goal that tied the game at one with less than ten seconds to go in the first period. DiPauli later scored in the third period following a beautiful dangle around an Eagles’ defenseman. DiPauli’s two points tie his total in the previous 21 games. With four points on the year, he’s finally topped his point production from five games in the 2014 World Juniors.

Austin Wuthrich had an assist on the eventual game-winning goal by Mario Lucia.

DiPauli’s secondary assist at the 0:28 mark. Wuthrich’s helper is at 1:25. DiPauli’s beautiful goal is at 2:47.

Notre Dame and Boston College will see each other again tonight at 4 PM Eastern. Free stream is available on WatchND.tv