University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Minnesota State
Mavs Hold Off `U' in Finale
1/31/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (GopherSports.com) - No. 20 Minnesota and No. 19 Minnesota State combined for four power-play goals in Sunday's North Star College Cup third-place game, but it was the Mavericks' even-strength goal to open the contest that tipped the 3-2 game in favor of the visitors.
Justin Kloos and Michael Brodzinski led the way for Minnesota with two points each in the loss while Minnesota (13-12-0 overall, 8-2-0-0 B1G) and Minnesota State (14-9-5, 12-3-5 WCHA) each scored five-on-four goals and five-on-three goals.
The Mavericks jumped out to an early lead at 4:04 of the first when Teddy Blueger's backhand attempt bounced off a Gophers defenseman and into the net for Blueger's first of two goals on the night. Kloos answered back later in the period with his 11th goal of the year at 14:48 during a Gophers' power play. The 5-on-4 goal was set up by Tommy Novak and Brodzinski.
Minnesota State scored a five-on-three goal at 17:23 of the second period when C.J. Franklin found the goal to reclaim the lead but Connor Reilly pulled the Gophers back to even at 5:27 with his five-on-three tally, set up by Kloos and Brodzinski. Minutes later, Blueger added his second of the day with a five-on-four goal at 7:29 for the deciding goal.
For Minnesota, Kloos has now scored a goal in seven-straight games (a new career record for consecutive games with a point and with a goal for the junior). The captain has also recorded multi-point games in five-straight contests while Reilly extended his career-best point streak to six games. The redshirt junior's goal marks his 16th point of the season (five goals, 11 assists), matching last year's career high for points from Reilly (11 goals, five assists).
The Big Ten's top team in the faceoff circle, the Gophers were dominant again on Sunday. The Maroon & Gold won 43-of-58 faceoffs in the game, highlighted by Vinni Lettieri's 13-of-15 showing and Novak's 12-of-15 performance in the dot.
Eric Schierhorn made 23 saves in the loss for the Gophers, moving to 13-12-0 in his 25th-straight start.
With the nonconference season in the rearview, Minnesota returns to Big Ten action next weekend with a two-game series at Mariucci Arena against Penn State. The Gophers are currently tied for first in the league with Michigan at 24 points each while the Nittany Lions are in third with 18 points.
-Pride On Ice-
