University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Host Spartans in B1G Series
2/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
| Minnesota vs. Michigan State | |
| Dates | Thursday, Feb. 26 (8:12 p.m. CT) |
| Friday, Feb. 27 (8:12 p.m. CT) | |
| Location | Mariucci Arena | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| TV (Both Games) | Big Ten Network |
| BTN2Go Stream | Thursday | Friday |
| Thursday Radio | My Talk 107.1 | Listen Online |
| Friday Radio | 1500 ESPN | Listen Online |
| Live Stats | | |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Michigan State | Big Ten |
| Social Media | @GopherHockey | Facebook |
Feb. 24, 2015
The No. 14/15 Gopher Hockey programs continues the 2014-15 campaign this week with a rare Thursday-Friday Big Ten series at Mariucci Arena against Michigan State. Both games are set for 8:12 p.m. CT with the Big Ten Network televising both games while BTN2Go.com will stream both games as well. Thursday's series opener will be broadcast on the radio via MyTalk 107.1 while Friday's series finale moves back to 1500 ESPN. Both games can also be heard on the Gopher Radio Network.
Seniors Set the Tone
Since Jan. 30, no class in college hockey has tallied more goals than Minnesota's senior class. The group of six has scored 20 of the team's 30 goals in the eight games since Jan. 30 including four of five goals last weekend at Penn State. Additionally, the seniors have tallied 43 of Minnesota's 95 points over the last eight games (.453) with all six seniors tallying points over the stretch.
Lucia Record Watch
Gopher Hockey coach Don Lucia is 668-354-97 all-time as a head coach including 389-199-68 at Minnesota. Only Doug Woog has more coaching wins behind the Gophers' bench with 390. Lucia's 668 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.
There's No Place Like Home
Minnesota's 6-2 victory over Michigan on Feb. 13 gave the Maroon & Gold its 300th all-time win 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 301-115-46 (.700) on home ice. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, the Gophers are 59-12-7 (.812) on home ice including a 15-1-3 (.853) mark last year and a 11-2-1 mark this season.
Back in the Saddle Again
With a 6-1-1 record in its last eight games, Minnesota has climbed back into a tie for first in the Big Ten Conference as both the Gophers and Michigan hold 27 league points. Penn State and Michigan State aren't far behind with 25 points each while Ohio State (12) and Wisconsin (10) bring up the rear of the league. All six Big Ten teams have played 14 conference games with six remaining in the regular-season.
Reilly Leads NCAA Defensemen in Scoring
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 29 assists and 34 points are both first nationally among defensemen. 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.
The Minnesota Rau-ser
Senior captain Kyle Rau ranks 27th all-time at Minnesota with 154 career points in 151 games and will tie Jason Miller (1987-91) for 26th in the school record book with his next point. Rau's 154 points are the fourth most in the Don Lucia era behind Erik Westrum's 168 (1997-2001), Troy Riddle's 178 (2000-04) and John Pohl's 200 (1998-2002). Minnesota is 79-14-8 all-time when Rau tallies a point and 39-3-0 when the All-American records multiple points in a game.
Wilcox Climbs Record Book
Defending Big Ten Player of the Year and Goaltender of the Year Adam Wilcox has appeared in 107 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 11 career shutouts rank second all-time at Minnesota behind Kellen Briggs' 13 while the junior's 68 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.
Power Play on Point
Minnesota continues to boast the nation's best power play at .293 (34-for-116). The Gophers have now tallied a power-play goal in eight of the last nine games are are now 13-for-33 (.379) over over that stretch. Minnesota is one of only two DivisionI schools (Yale) to have not allowed a short-handed goal this year. Travis Boyd's nine power-play goals are most in the Big Ten this season and second most in the NCAA behind St. Cloud State's Jonny Brodzinski with 10 this season.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Goalie
/ Men's HockeyHighlights: Gophers 2, Michigan 4
Friday, February 27
Highlights: Gophers 4, Michigan 2
Thursday, February 26
Highlights: Gophers 2, Notre Dame 3
Saturday, February 14
Highlights: Gophers 2, Notre Dame 2
Friday, February 13