University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Michigan
Gophers Sweep No. 10/11 Michigan
2/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
 |
|  | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Feb. 15, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS - Behind four different goal scorers and another impressive performance in net by Adam Wilcox, No. 2 Minnesota completed a sweep of No. 10/11 Michigan with a 4-1 victory Saturday night at Mariucci Arena.
With two games remaining at Mariucci Arena this season, Minnesota (21-4-5, 10-2-2-0 Big Ten) has just one loss at home on the season with a 14-1-3 record.
The game got off to a poor start for Minnesota when Michigan defenseman Andrew Sinelli scored his first goal of the season with the Wolverine's first shot of the game. The Gophers responded well, controlling most of the even-strength play until Sam Warning evened the score with 2:14 to play in the period. Warning's 11th goal of the season was set up by Kyle Rau and Hudson Fasching. Overall, the Gophers outshot Michigan in the opening frame 10-4.
The good vibes kept coming in the second period as Minnesota broke the deadlock with two goals. First, Connor Reilly beat Michigan goaltender Steve Racine off the rush with a blast to the glove side. Connor Reilly's fifth goal of the season was assisted on by Gabe Guertler and Vinni Lettieri. For, Guertler, it was his second-straight night with a point after tallying his first career goal on Friday.
Lettieri would also set up the Gophers second goal of the second stanza when found Nate Condon to give the Gophers a two-goal lead. Vinni Lettieri's two-assist night was the first multi-point night of his career while the freshman tallied three assists over the weekend after entering the series with just three points.
Minnesota closed out the scoring in the third period. Fasching got to the front of the net and deposited a loose puck to help the Gophers capitalize on a five-minute power play. Kyle Rau picked up the primary assist, his second assist of the night. Travis Boyd also tallied a point on Fasching's goal. Minnesota finished the night 1-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
Adam Wilcox was stellar again tonight. After getting beat on his first shot, he made 28 consecutive saves to close out the contest and earn the game's First Star. His performance comes just one night after collecting a 35-save win as the sophomore is now 20-4-5 on the season.
The Gophers will be off next weekend before they play host to the Penn State Nittany Lions on Feb. 28 and March 1.
-Pride on Ice-
