University of Minnesota Athletics
Men's Hockey Preview: Penalty Kill
10/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
After being ranked fourth in the nation in penalty killing percentage in 2008-09, the Gophers moved down to 28th after having 19 of their 39 games against teams ranked in the top 15 nationally in power play conversion percentage. Their ranking of 28th last season did mask a few impressive penalty killing feats, however.
Early in the season, Minnesota killed off 24 consecutive penalties, including an impressive stand against 7th-ranked Bemidji State, where the Gophers' penalty kill unit held the Beavers off the board for four minutes. The Beavers had a 5-on-3 advantage for 2:12 during that span. The Gophers also surrendered only one power play goal in the last eight minutes of regulation all season.
A key player on the Gophers' penalty kill this season is Taylor Matson, who missed over half of last season because of injury. Matson was an important cog defensively for the unit last season and is the only returning player who had multiple shorthanded points last year. Mike Hoeffel is the only returnee who notched a shorthanded goal last season.
Penalty Kill Notes
-Ranked 28th 146/178 (82.0%) in 2009-10
-Played 19 games against teams ranked in the top 15 nationally in power-play conversion
-Matson important addition coming back from injury; only returning player to have multiple shorthanded points; Hoeffel only returnee with a shorthanded goal last season
-Allowed an opponent to score in the last eight minutes of regulation only once (Denver on 2/13)
-Had streak of 24 consecutive penalties killed from 10/30 to 11/15
-Killed a four-minute power play against No. 7 Bemidji State, including 2:12 of 5-on-3
-Gophers had thee shorthanded in four games against Alaska Anchorage
