Blog Recap: Minnesota at Wisconsin

Last Time Out: Minnesota split a home series against No. 4 Denver last weekend. On Friday, Kent Patterson made 28 saves and Erik Haula scored his first goal since Nov. 28, but the Golden Gophers fell 2-1 to the Pioneers. The two teams were tied 0-0 when Haula potted his fourth goal of the year at the 10:02 mark of the second period to give the Gophers a lead. However, just 2:40 later the Pioneers tied the game when Drew Shore deflected in a power-play goal. The squads were deadlocked 1-1 after 40 minutes, but Denver would score the lone goal of the third period. Jason Zucker tallied his 18th goal of the season, beating Patterson five-hole to complete the comeback and lift Denver to the win.

On Saturday, the Gopher offense erupted to score the first six goals of the game and Minnesota soundly defeated Denver 7-3. It was Minnesota's first Saturday win since a 4-1 victory at Michigan Tech on Nov. 20. The Gophers led 3-0 on first-period goals from Jacob Cepis, Taylor Matson and Nick Bjugstad. Minnesota increased its lead to 6-0 on second-period tallies from Haula, Mike Hoeffel and Cade Fairchild. Pat White scored the Gophers' lone goal in the third period and despite giving up three final-frame goals the Gophers cruised to a win. Patterson made 31 saves in a game that featured 99 combined penalty minutes (54 for Denver and 45 for Minnesota).

Minnesota vs. Wisconsin: Minnesota is 152-84-19 all time against Wisconsin, but the Badgers own a 5-3-2 record in the last 10 meetings between the teams. Wisconsin is 1-0-1 against Minnesota this season and it beat the Gophers 6-0 (Minnesota's worst loss of the season) at Mariucci Arena on Nov. 5. The team's battled to a 3-3 overtime tie on Nov. 6. The Gophers jumped out to a 2-0 lead 12 minutes into the game on goals from Taylor Matson and Jacob Cepis and lead 2-1 after the first period. Both teams scored in the second period and Minnesota took a 3-2 lead into the final frame. The Badgers rallied to tie the game 3-3 when Jordy Murray scored his second goal of the contest with 2:54 remaining. Kent Patterson was in net (his only career game against Wisconsin) and made 23 saves. 

About The Badgers: Wisconsin comes into this weekend's series after having been involved in three consecutive sweeps. The Badgers ended January by sweeping Minnesota State and Michigan Tech before being swept at Nebraska-Omaha last weekend. This season, Wisconsin has been anchored by its defensive core and goaltending. UW has allowed a miniscule 2.12 goals per game-good for fourth in the country-thanks in large part to Scott Gudmandson. The senior goaltender ranks fourth in the nation with a 1.93 goals against average and sixth in the nation with a .930 save percentage. Not only do the Badger defensemen do well at keeping the puck out of the net, but they can score as well. The eight Wisconsin defensemen who have played 14 games or more have combined for 110 points, the highest total in the nation. Justin Schultz not only leads the Badgers in scoring, but he also leads all NCAA defensemen with 41 points (15g-26a). Schultz's partner, Jake Gardiner (brother of Gopher forward Max Gardiner), has 32 points (8g-24a). Craig Smith (16g-21a) and playmaking freshman Mark Zengerle (5g-29a) lead UW forwards in points. Wisconsin's power play, which clicks at 23.9%, is the fourth-best power play in the nation. Junior Jordy Murray (16g-7a) leads the team with 10 power-play goals.

A Look Ahead: Minnesota has six WCHA games left this season beginning with two games this weekend at No. 12 Wisconsin. The Gophers host Michigan Tech in two weeks and finish the regular season at Bemidji State on March 4-5. Wisconsin should be the last ranked team that the Gophers will face this year. Minnesota is 7-8-4 against ranked teams this season (rankings at the time of game). The Gophers have played eight games this year when they were unranked and their opponent was ranked in the top five by USCHO.com. Minnesota is 3-3-2 in those games.  

Brother Against Brother?: This weekend has the potential to pit brother against brother once again. Max Gardiner is a freshman forward for the Gophers, while his brother Jake is a junior defenseman for Wisconsin. Max recorded his first collegiate point (an assist) in a 3-3 tie against on Nov. 6 while Jake was on the ice for the Badgers.

Beating Denver: Last Saturday's 7-3 win against Denver was Minnesota's first against the Pioneers since a 5-2 road triumph on Nov. 21, 2008, ending a six-game losing streak. It was the Gophers' first home win against Denver since a 5-4 victory on Jan. 20, 2007, ending a five-game losing streak. Minnesota's seven goals were the most they scored against Denver since an 8-5 home win against the Pioneers on March 1, 2003.

Seven Is Enough: The Gophers had seven different players score a goal against Denver last Saturday. Minnesota had eight goal scorers in its 9-4 win at Colorado College earlier this season. Taylor Matson, Jacob Cepis, Pat White and Cade Fairchild scored against Denver on Saturday and also registered a goal in the rout against Colorado College earlier this season. 

Above Average: The Gophers have scored 86 goals in 28 games this year for an average of 3.07 goals per game. However, 56 of those 86 goals (65.1%) have come in the Gophers' 12 wins, which means Minnesota is averaging 4.66 goals per game in each win. The Gophers have scored four or more goals in 10 games this season and are 8-2-0 in those games. They have scored three or more goals in 14 games this year and are 11-2-1 in those games. Minnesota has won only one game this season (2-1 home win against St. Cloud State on Oct. 24) in which they scored less than three goals.

Against The Best: Minnesota is 4-3-2 against teams ranked in the top 10 by USCHO.com this year (rankings at the time of game). The Gophers are 1-0-0 against No. 8 Michigan and 1-1-0 against No. 2 North Dakota. Minnesota is also 1-1-2 against Minnesota-Duluth this year (Bulldogs ranked No. 2 first time the teams played and No. 4 during the second meeting). The Gophers are also 1-1-0 against No. 4 Denver.

Gophers Against WCHA: The Gophers are in sixth place in the WCHA and have played every team ranked above them. Minnesota is 5-6-3 against teams ranked above them in the standings this year.

Fair Point: Senior defenseman Cade Fairchild had four points (1g-3a) last Saturday against Denver. It was his second career four-point game, as he also had four points (4a) on Nov. 1, 2008, against Minnesota State. His four-point outburst is the most by a defenseman this year and is the third time a Gopher has had four or more points in a game this season. Nate Condon had five points (2g-3a) and Jacob Cepis (1g-3a) had four in Minnesota's 9-4 victory at Colorado College on Oct. 30. Fairchild now has six points (3g-3a) in his last four games, after recording only one assist in his seven previous games.

Double Dipping: Five Gophers recorded multiple-point games in Minnesota's 7-3 win last Saturday against Denver. Cade Fairchild led the way with four points (1g-4a). Erika Haula (1g-2a) notched his first career three-point game. Jacob Cepis (1g-1a), Nate Condon (2a) and Mark Alt (2a) all had two points. It was Alt's first career multiple-point game.

Droughts Over: Four Gophers ended some pretty significant goalless streaks last Saturday against Denver. Taylor Matson scored his first goal in 14 games, while Pat White's tally was his first in 13 games. Nick Bjugstad scored his first goal in 10 games, and Jacob Cepis ended an eight-game drought without a goal.

Goals, Goals And More Goals: The Gophers scored three goals in both the first and second periods against Denver. It was the fourth time this year that the Gophers tallied three goals in the first 20 minutes (ties the most goals scored in a first period this year) and it was the second time that Minnesota scored three goals in a second period this season (scored four goals in second period at Colorado College on Oct. 30). The seven goals were the second-most that Minnesota has scored this year (9-4 win at Colorado College on Oct. 30) and it was also the first time that Minnesota scored seven goals in a home game since a 7-4 win against Colorado College on Feb. 20, 2010.

Put It On Ice: Erik Haula has been on the ice for 37 Minnesota goals this season, which is most of any player on the team. Second is Aaron Ness, Mike Hoeffel and Cade Fairchild, who have all been on the ice for 36 Gopher goals this year. Jacob Cepis has been on the ice for 30 Minnesota goals and 13 opponent goals for a team best +17 goal differential.

Cepis, Haula Score: When Jacob Cepis and Erik Haula score the result is usually a positive one for the Gophers. Minnesota is 5-1-2 when Cepis scores a goals and 11-3-2 when he records a point. The Gophers are 9-1-2 when Haula has at least one assist and are 10-3-1 when he has a point. Cepis and Haula share the team lead with 15 assists.

Wasn't Me: The Gophers have allowed 15 goals (1, 1, 2, 6, 2, 3) in their last six games, but sophomore defenseman Seth Helgeson was on the ice for only one of those scores. That is the fewest for any Gopher who has played in the last six games. The goal Helgeson was on the ice for was Minnesota-Duluth's Mike Connolly's strike at the 1:22 of the first period on Feb. 5.

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