University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Host Michigan in Big Ten Showdown
2/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
| Minnesota vs. Michigan | |
| Dates | Friday, Feb. 13 (8:12 p.m. CT) |
| Saturday, Feb. 14 (7:05 p.m. CT) | |
| Location | Mariucci Arena | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Friday TV | Big Ten Network |
| Saturday TV | FOX Sports North PLUS |
| BTN2Go Stream | Friday | Saturday |
| Radio | 1500 ESPN | Listen Online |
| Live Stats | | |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Michigan | Big Ten |
| Social Media | @GopherHockey | Facebook |
Gopher Hockey preps for a Big Ten Conference showdown this weekend as No. 12 Michigan visits Mariucci Arena for a two-game series. The two league rivals open up on Friday, Feb. 13 at 8:12 p.m. CT (BTN, BTN2Go, 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network) with the series finale set for Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7:05 p.m. CT (FOX Sports North PLUS, BTN2Go, 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network).
Minnesota/Michigan Series Preview
Two of the top scoring teams in the nation will faceoff at Mariucci Arena this weekend as Michigan's top-ranked offense (4.21 goals per game) takes on Minnesota's sixth-ranked offense (3.54 goals per game). Meanwhile, the Gophers boast the nation's top power play (.291) while Michigan comes in at No. 4 in the nation (.241). The Gophers are 131-120-14 all-time against the Wolverines including an 80-47-10 mark on home ice but have lost three-straight to this weekend's opponent including a pair of games in Ann Arbor in January.
Milestone Watch at Mariucci
The 2014-15 season marks the 21st campaign in which the Gophers have called Mariucci Arena home. Since opening Mariucci Arena, Minnesota is 299-115-46 (.700) on home ice with the team's next win marking the 300th in the venue's history. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, the Gophers are 57-12-7 (.812) on home ice including a 15-1-3 (.853) mark last year and an 8-2-1 mark this season.
Rau Nears 150th Point
With 56 goals and 93 assists in 147 career games, senior captain Kyle Rau's next point will be the 150th of his career. Rau's 149 career points rank 27th all-time at Minnesota and are the fourth most in the Don Lucia era behind Jordan Leopold (200), Troy Riddle (178) and Erik Westrum (168). The senior's 56 career goals rank tied for 40th all-time at Minnesota with Dean Blais and Jeff Taffe while his next tally will move him into a tie with Thomas Vanek at 39th. Rau's 93 assists are tied with Gary Shopek for 26th all-time at Minnesota. Minnesota is now 77-13-8 all-time when Rau tallies a point and 38-3-0 when the forward tallies more than one point in a game.
Lucia Record Watch
Gopher Hockey coach Don Lucia is 665-353-97 all-time as a head coach including 386-198-68 at Minnesota. Only Doug Woog has more coaching wins behind the Gophers' bench with 390. Lucia's 664 career wins rank him ninth all-time in college hockey and third among active Division I coaches while he will enter his 28th overall season as a head coach and 16th season with the Gophers in 2014-15.
Boyd Claims National, Big Ten Honors
Senior forward Travis Boyd has been one of the hottest skaters in college hockey over the last few months -- currently leading the nation with a .325 shooting percentage. Boyd was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week and NCAA Third Star of the Week for his five-point performance last weekend including his first career hat trick. Boyd leads the Gophers with 13 goals this season (career high) and leads the Big Ten in conference goals (10), power-play goals (seven) and game-winning goals (six). Additionally, the senior has tallied 20 points in 14 games since returning from an injury that sidelined him for all of November.
Bristedt Finds Net on Unbeaten Streak
Freshman Leon Bristedt leads the freshman class with nine points this year (four goals, five assists) and has tallied a point in every game during the Maroon & Gold's current four-game unbeaten streak.
Honoring the 1974-75 Gophers
The University of Minnesota and Gopher Hockey will honor the 1974-75 Gopher Hockey team during Saturday's game with the Wolverines. The Maroon & Gold swept the WCHA regular-season and playoffs that season and reached the NCAA title game with a 31-10-1 overall record and a 24-8-0 mark in league play. Les Auge and Mike Polich would go on to earn First Team All-America honors that year.
Wilcox Climbs Record Book
Adam Wilcox has appeared in 103 games since arriving on campus as a freshman while the All-American continues to make a name for himself in the Gopher Hockey history books. Wilcox's 10 career shutouts rank second all-time at Minnesota behind Kellen Briggs' 13 while the junior's 65 career wins are fourth all-time at Minnesota. Next up on the list for Wilcox is Hobey Baker Award winner Robb Stauber with 73 wins while Briggs also holds the school wins record at 84.
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 24 assists and 28 points are both tied for first nationally among defensemen with Jeff Taylor of Union. In fact, Reilly ranks tied for eighth among all NCAA skaters in assists this season. Reilly is the first Gopher defensemen to lead the team in scoring since Mike Crowley tallied 56 points (nine goals, 47assists) in route to All-America honors in 1996-97.
