University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog Recap: Michigan Tech at Minnesota
2/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Blog Recap: Michigan Tech at Minnesota
About Last Night: Minnesota trailed 1-0 in the second period but then reeled off four consecutive goals en route to a 5-2 victory against Michigan Tech. With the win, the No. 20 Gophers leapfrogged Wisconsin, who fell to St. Cloud State 4-2, to reach fifth place in the WCHA. Taylor Matson, Nick Larson and Jacob Cepis all scored in the second period to give Minnesota a 3-1 lead with 20 minutes to play. Freshman Nick Bjugstad scored two shorthanded goals in the third period and Michigan Tech had one power-play goal. Kent Patterson made 28 saves as Minnesota improved to 3-0-0 against the Huskies and has now won six straight in the series.
Senior Night: Tonight is the last regular-season game for seven Minnesota seniors. Jacob Cepis, Cade Fairchild, Mike Hoeffel, Kevin Wehrs and Pat White will play tonight, while Jay Barriball and Alex Kangas will miss tonight's game with injuries. The six skaters in the senior class have played in a combined 774 games. They have also combined for 430 points (166g-264a). Goaltender Alex Kangas played in 108 games and posted a 47-41-6 record. He has a career .912 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average.
Getting Offensive: Minnesota has scored 20 combined goals in its last four games, all without Jay Barriball (lower-body injury), who is tied for the team lead in goals with Mike Hoeffel with 12. The Gophers scored a combined 20 goals in their previous nine games (Dec. 31-Feb. 11) prior to their recent four-game outburst.
Above Average: The Gophers average 3.19 goals per game this year. However, 66 of their 99 goals (66.7%) have come in their 14 wins this season. That means Minnesota is averaging 4.71 goals per win this year. Minnesota has scored four or more goals in 11 games this season and is 10-2-0 in those games. They have scored three or more goals in 16 games this year and are 13-2-1 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. Conversely, Minnesota averages 1.94 goals per game in a loss or tie.
Bonus Notes: Minnesota's next goal will be its 100th of the season...Kent Patterson needs five more saves to reach 1,000 for his career...Pat White's assist last night was the 50th point (25g-25a) of his career...Gophers are on a season-high four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1); were 3-0-0 from Oct. 24-30 and 2-0-1 from Nov. 6-20...Jacob Cepis is on a five-game point streak (4g-3a) and a four-game goal streak (4g)...Cade Fairchild is on a four-game point streak (1g-7a)...Nick Bjugstad has six points (3g-3a) in his current four-game point streak and 11 points (3g-8a) in his last 11 games...Bjugstad had two shorthanded goals last night to become the first Gopher to score two shorthanded goals in a game since Tony Lucia in a 5-1 home win against Alaska Anchorage on Oct. 30, 2009...Minnesota has scored 55 goals at home this year and allowed 55 as well, but this is the first time since Oct. 16 (four games into the season) that its home goal differential is even or better...Through nine home games this season (after Nov. 26 game) the Gophers were outscored 36-25 (season low -11 goal differential at home); since then (10 games) they have outscored opponents 30-19 at home...Last night was second time this season that Minnesota won when its opponent scored first. The other win was a 2-1 against St. Cloud State on Oct. 24. SCSU went up 1-0 in the first period, but Minnesota scored 33 seconds later to tie. Last night, Michigan Tech went up 1-0 in the second period, but the Gophers scored 23 seconds later to tie
