University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, March 2
3M Arena at Mariucci
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
16-15-4, 11-10-3-0
5
vs
2
Arizona State University
21-12-1
1
2
3
F
Arizona State
0
2
0
2
Minnesota
3
1
1
5
Gophers Complete Sweep of Sun Devils with 5-2 Win
3/2/2019 11:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – Gopher Hockey extended its Senior Night unbeaten streak to 11 seasons after completing a weekend sweep over No. 12/11 Arizona State on Saturday with a 5-2 win at 3M Arena at Mariucci.Â
The Gophers, who end the regular season with a third-place finish in the Big Ten, have now won five of the last six games and have not lost in the regular-season home finale (Senior Night) since 2007-08 – going 9-0-2 over the last 11 years. Eleven Minnesota skaters picked up points in the victory including five different goal scorers.Â
Minnesota (16-15-4 overall, 11-10-3-0 Big Ten) didn't wait long to start celebrating Senior Night as fourth-year forward and assistant captain Jack Ramsey found the net just 42 seconds into the contest after being set up by fellow seniors Brent Gates Jr. and Jack Sadek. Ramsey's third goal of the year snapped a 15-game goal drought for the senior.Â
The Maroon & Gold added another goal from a senior assistant captain at 10:02 of the opening frame when Darian Romanko snapped a 30-game goal drought with his first of the season. Sadek picked up his second assist of the game while Scott Reedy also earned a helper. The Gophers snapped another dry spell to close out the period as freshman forward Sampo Ranta ended a 17-game drought with his fifth of the year at 13:07 off assists from Ryan Zuhlsdorf and Brannon McManus.Â
McManus added to the lead 1:07 into the second period with his 13th of the season with assists coming from Tommy Novak and Tyler Nanne.Â
Arizona State (21-12-1) picked up a pair of goals later in the second period with a shorthanded tally from Dominic Garcia at 5:31 and an even-strength goal from Brett Gruber at 13:32.Â
But Rem Pitlick quickly quieted the comeback effort with a shorthanded goal at 17:13 of the third period off Gates' second assist of the night.Â
Senior Eric Schierhorn picked up the win for his 59th career victory, making 19 saves to move to 4-4-0 on the season. The netminder, who ended the night with 2,718 career saves, became just the fifth goalie in Gopher Hockey history to eclipse 2,700 career saves, joining Adam Hauser, Kellen Briggs, Adam Wilcox and Alex Kangas. But Schierhorn's best play of the night was corralling a loose puck in the final minute in order for senior Brock Kautz to come in for the final 27 seconds of play, picking up one save in his second career appearance for the Maroon & Gold.Â
The Gophers will host Michigan in Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal action next weekend at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The best-of-three series opens on Friday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m. CT with the follow up on Saturday, March 9 at 4:00 p.m. CT. If necessary, the deciding game will be played on Sunday, March 10 at 4:30 p.m. CT. All three games will be broadcast live on FOX Sports North PLUS. Ticket information is available at GopherSports.com and 1-800-U-GOPHER.Â
Notes: Minnesota outshot Arizona State 31-22 on Saturday, going 1-for-1 on the penalty kill and 0-for-4 on the power play…the Gophers have now earned a home sweep in every season since 1976-77.
The Gophers, who end the regular season with a third-place finish in the Big Ten, have now won five of the last six games and have not lost in the regular-season home finale (Senior Night) since 2007-08 – going 9-0-2 over the last 11 years. Eleven Minnesota skaters picked up points in the victory including five different goal scorers.Â
Minnesota (16-15-4 overall, 11-10-3-0 Big Ten) didn't wait long to start celebrating Senior Night as fourth-year forward and assistant captain Jack Ramsey found the net just 42 seconds into the contest after being set up by fellow seniors Brent Gates Jr. and Jack Sadek. Ramsey's third goal of the year snapped a 15-game goal drought for the senior.Â
The Maroon & Gold added another goal from a senior assistant captain at 10:02 of the opening frame when Darian Romanko snapped a 30-game goal drought with his first of the season. Sadek picked up his second assist of the game while Scott Reedy also earned a helper. The Gophers snapped another dry spell to close out the period as freshman forward Sampo Ranta ended a 17-game drought with his fifth of the year at 13:07 off assists from Ryan Zuhlsdorf and Brannon McManus.Â
McManus added to the lead 1:07 into the second period with his 13th of the season with assists coming from Tommy Novak and Tyler Nanne.Â
Arizona State (21-12-1) picked up a pair of goals later in the second period with a shorthanded tally from Dominic Garcia at 5:31 and an even-strength goal from Brett Gruber at 13:32.Â
But Rem Pitlick quickly quieted the comeback effort with a shorthanded goal at 17:13 of the third period off Gates' second assist of the night.Â
Senior Eric Schierhorn picked up the win for his 59th career victory, making 19 saves to move to 4-4-0 on the season. The netminder, who ended the night with 2,718 career saves, became just the fifth goalie in Gopher Hockey history to eclipse 2,700 career saves, joining Adam Hauser, Kellen Briggs, Adam Wilcox and Alex Kangas. But Schierhorn's best play of the night was corralling a loose puck in the final minute in order for senior Brock Kautz to come in for the final 27 seconds of play, picking up one save in his second career appearance for the Maroon & Gold.Â
The Gophers will host Michigan in Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal action next weekend at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The best-of-three series opens on Friday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m. CT with the follow up on Saturday, March 9 at 4:00 p.m. CT. If necessary, the deciding game will be played on Sunday, March 10 at 4:30 p.m. CT. All three games will be broadcast live on FOX Sports North PLUS. Ticket information is available at GopherSports.com and 1-800-U-GOPHER.Â
Notes: Minnesota outshot Arizona State 31-22 on Saturday, going 1-for-1 on the penalty kill and 0-for-4 on the power play…the Gophers have now earned a home sweep in every season since 1976-77.
Follow Men's Hockey
Men's Hockey Tickets
Experience the excitement and tradition connecting generations of Gopher fans! Create memories for a lifetime with your friends and family while you root for your Golden Gophers. Get Tickets
Support Men's Hockey
Support the University of Minnesota Men's Hockey program. Your support helps our student-athletes succeed athletically, academically, and socially. It takes just seconds to make a monthly or one-time donation. Thank you for your support! Give Now
 
Team Stats
ASU
MINN
Shots
22
31
PPG
0
0
SHG
1
1
Penalties
5
1
Penalty Mins
21
2
Faceoffs Won
24
29
Game Leaders
+/-
+2
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
+2
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
+2
Goals
0
Sh
7
A
2
+/-
+4
Goals
0
Sh
0
A
2
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Goalie
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyDefense
/ Men's Hockey
Goalie
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's HockeyHighlights: Gophers 2, Wisconsin 5
Thursday, October 30
Highlights: Gophers 1, UMD 4
Saturday, October 25
Highlights: Gophers 0, UMD 3
Friday, October 24
Highlights: Gophers 5, North Dakota 1
Saturday, October 18