University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Host Border Battle This Weekend
1/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
| No. 13/16 Minnesota vs. Wisconsin | |
| Dates | Friday, Jan. 16 (8:10 p.m. CT) |
| Saturday, Jan. 17 (5:05 p.m. CT) | |
| Location | Mariucci Arena | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Friday TV | Big Ten Network |
| Saturday TV | FOX Sports North (Hockey Day Minnesota) |
| Watch Online | Friday | Saturday |
| Radio | 1500 ESPN | Listen Online |
| Live Stats | | |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Wisconsin | Big Ten |
| Social Media | @GopherHockey | Facebook |
Jan. 14, 2015
The No. 13/16 Gopher Hockey program continues the 2014-15 campaign this weekend with the Border Battle as Big Ten rival Wisconsin visits Mariucci Arena for a pair of league games. Minnesota (10-7-1 overall, 1-2-1-0 Big Ten) and Wisconsin (2-12-2, 0-2-0-0) open the series at 8:10 p.m. CT on Friday, Jan. 16 (TV: BTN; Stream: BTN2Go; Radio: 1500 ESPN/Gopher Radio Network) before meeting again on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 5:05 p.m. CT (TV: FOX Sports North; Stream: BTN2Go; Radio: 1500 ESPN/Gopher Radio Network).
Hockey Day Minnesota 2015
Saturday's series finale falls on Hockey Day Minnesota -- an annual event that showcases hockey on the high school, college and professional levels throughout the state of Minnesota. The Gophers, who have been part of all eight Hockey Day Minnesota events prior to this year, are 5-2-1 all-time on Hockey Day Minnesota and are unbeaten in their last four appearances (3-0-1). Saturday's game against the Badgers marks the first time the two border rivals have played as part of the event.
Connor Catches Fire
With a goal in both games against Michigan last weekend, Connor Reilly extended his career-best point streak to eight games (the longest active streak among the Gophers). The redshirt sophomore has tallied 10 points (seven goals, three assists) over that span and currently leads the Gophers with 10 goals this season -- third among all Big Ten skaters. Reilly has already topped his goal total from his redshirt freshman season (six in 37 games) and his point total as well with 13 this year (12 last season).
Ambroz Against the Badgers
Senior alternate captain Seth Ambroz snapped a 15-game goal drought with his second goal of the year last Saturday against the Wolverines. And if the forward's previous success against the Badgers continues, he will add to that number this weekend. In 11 career games against Wisconsin, Ambroz has tallied seven goals. The senior is Minnesota's active leading scorer against this weekend's opponents.
On Point From the Point
As a sophomore last season, Mike Reilly earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and became Minnesota's first First Team All-American since 2009. The defenseman is once again among the elite defensemen in the nation -- his 20 points and 16 assists are both tied for the NCAA lead among defensemen with Union's Jeff Taylor.
Winner for Rau
Twenty of senior captain Kyle Rau's 54 career goals have been game winners as Rau is the NCAA active leading scorer in game-winning goals. Rau is Minnesota's active leading scorer with 144 points in 139 career games (the most career points by a Gopher since Troy Riddle's 178 from 2000-2004). Minnesota is now 75-12-7 all-time when Rau tallies a point and 37-3-0 when the forward tallies more than one point in a game.
Back Home at Mariucci Arena
The 2014-15 season marks the 21st campaign in which the Gophers have called Mariucci Arena home. Since opening Mariucci Arena, Minnesota is 296-115-45 (.700) on home ice. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, the Gophers are 54-12-6 (.812) on home ice including a 15-1-3 (.853) mark last year and a 6-2-0 mark this season.
