University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Blanked by Michigan in Showcase Opener
11/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota suffered its worst loss since 1998 as the Gophers were blanked by Michigan 6-0 in the opening game of the College Hockey Showcase on Friday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
It was Minnesota's worst defeat in Don Lucia's 10-year tenure as head coach and biggest setback since a 7-1 loss to Colorado College on Nov. 6, 1998. The loss, which was Minnesota's fourth straight, dropped the Gophers to 4-8-1 overall. Michigan had lost four straight home games and improved to 6-7 with the victory.
The Wolverines scored twice on the power play and also had goals in shorthanded, four-on-four and five-on-five situations. Minnesota had 24 shots on goal, but Michigan goalie Bryan Hogan stopped them all for the shutout as the Gophers matched a single-season school record with their fourth shutout of the season. Minnesota was also shutout four times in 1955-56 and 1926-27.
Michigan's Carl Hagelin scored two goals as the Wolverines had 11 different players record a point and put 32 shots on goal. Alex Kangas made 26 saves for the Gophers.
The first period featured strong skating and back-and-forth hockey. Both teams hit the post in the early going with Mike Hoeffel ripping a shot of the crossbar for Minnesota. Michigan finally netted the period's first goal as David Wohlberg brought the puck down along the boards and lifted a shot past Kangas into the upper corner from deep in the Gophers' zone with 1:13 left in the period.
Michigan scored twice on the power play during a three-goal second period. Defenseman Brandon Burlon scored the first goal at 8:52 of the period when he blasted a shot from the left point and Louie Caporusso notched the second score at the 14:25 mark on a puck that deflected in off the stick of a Gophers' defenseman. Hagelin finished the scoring with the first of his two goals just over two minutes later at the 17:45 mark.
Hagelin added a shorthanded tally at the 6:56 mark of the third period with a breakaway goal. The Wolverines penalty killers held Minnesota to 0-for-7 on the power play for the game. Michigan finished the night 2-for-7 on the man advantage. Ben Winnett finished the scoring with an even strength goal at 11:28 of the third period.
Hoeffel hit another post in the second period for Minnesota's best scoring chance of the night. Defensemen David Fischer and Cade Fairchild each put three shots on goal.
The Gophers face Michigan State on Saturday at 6 p.m. (Central time) in East Lansing, Mich. Minnesota is 3-0-5 in the last eight meetings with the Spartans.
