University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, November 26
Grand Forks, ND
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
9-6-0
5
at
1
North Dakota
9-5-0
1
2
3
F
Minnesota
1
2
2
5
North Dakota
0
0
1
1
Photo by: Jim Rosvold
Friday Fun: Gophers Take Down UND 5-1
11/26/2021 11:14:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota and North Dakota will meet for the the 300th time on Saturday.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – An offensive onslaught by the No. 11/12 Gopher men's hockey program gave No. 6/5 North Dakota a rare home loss on Friday night as Minnesota opened this weekend's series at Ralph Engelstad Arena with a 5-1 win.
Bryce Brodzinski bookended the night with a pair of goals to lead Minnesota while Blake McLaughlin added a pair of assists. Ryan Johnson, Jack Perbix and Chaz Lucius also found the net for the Maroon & Gold.
The Gophers (9-6-0 overall, 5-3-0-0-1-0 Big Ten) jumped out to a first period lead with a power-play goal from Brodzinski before Perbix and Johnson pocketed goals in the second period to add to the lead. North Dakota (9-5-0, 5-1-0 NCHC) got one back from Riese Gaber early in the third period, but the Gophers responded with an empty-net goal from Lucius and Brodzinski's second of the game in the final minutes.
Brodzinsk's power-play goal to open the night was the lone special teams strike of the game as Minnesota was 1-for-5 on the advantage and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill including a successful 5-on-3 situation for the home squad. Brodzinzki vaulted back into the team goal scoring lead after the two-goal performance as the junior has eight on the season – tied for his career high in just 15 games this season. With his second of the season on Friday, Johnson also tied his career high for goals.
Jack LaFontaine (9-6-0) picked up the win for the Maroon & Gold, making 21 saves on 22 shots. Jack Driscoll (9-5-0) made 27 saves on 31 shots for the Fighting Hawks.
The Gophers outshot North Dakota 32-22 on the night and held an advantage in all three periods including a 14-4 performance in the opening stanza.
Coach's Comments
"We had some toughness in us tonight," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "It was a strong game for us. Best game by our defensemen all year, Laffer was as strong as can be. It was a good win for us."
Noteworthy
Saturday's series finale marks the 300th all-time meeting between the Gophers and the Fighting Hawks – the 'U' holds a 149-134-16 record in the rivalry…Grant Cruikshank picked up an assist in his return to the Gophers lineup after missing six games with an injury – the forward will skate in his 100th career game on Saturday…Matthew Knies extended his point streak to six games with an assist in the win.
Up Next: Grand Forks Finale
Minnesota and North Dakota wrap up this weekend's series in Grand Forks on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 6:00 p.m. CT (TV: Midco/XFinity 999/Mediacom MC22; Stream: NCHC.tv; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM).
Bryce Brodzinski bookended the night with a pair of goals to lead Minnesota while Blake McLaughlin added a pair of assists. Ryan Johnson, Jack Perbix and Chaz Lucius also found the net for the Maroon & Gold.
The Gophers (9-6-0 overall, 5-3-0-0-1-0 Big Ten) jumped out to a first period lead with a power-play goal from Brodzinski before Perbix and Johnson pocketed goals in the second period to add to the lead. North Dakota (9-5-0, 5-1-0 NCHC) got one back from Riese Gaber early in the third period, but the Gophers responded with an empty-net goal from Lucius and Brodzinski's second of the game in the final minutes.
Brodzinsk's power-play goal to open the night was the lone special teams strike of the game as Minnesota was 1-for-5 on the advantage and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill including a successful 5-on-3 situation for the home squad. Brodzinzki vaulted back into the team goal scoring lead after the two-goal performance as the junior has eight on the season – tied for his career high in just 15 games this season. With his second of the season on Friday, Johnson also tied his career high for goals.
Jack LaFontaine (9-6-0) picked up the win for the Maroon & Gold, making 21 saves on 22 shots. Jack Driscoll (9-5-0) made 27 saves on 31 shots for the Fighting Hawks.
The Gophers outshot North Dakota 32-22 on the night and held an advantage in all three periods including a 14-4 performance in the opening stanza.
Coach's Comments
"We had some toughness in us tonight," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "It was a strong game for us. Best game by our defensemen all year, Laffer was as strong as can be. It was a good win for us."
Noteworthy
Saturday's series finale marks the 300th all-time meeting between the Gophers and the Fighting Hawks – the 'U' holds a 149-134-16 record in the rivalry…Grant Cruikshank picked up an assist in his return to the Gophers lineup after missing six games with an injury – the forward will skate in his 100th career game on Saturday…Matthew Knies extended his point streak to six games with an assist in the win.
Up Next: Grand Forks Finale
Minnesota and North Dakota wrap up this weekend's series in Grand Forks on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 6:00 p.m. CT (TV: Midco/XFinity 999/Mediacom MC22; Stream: NCHC.tv; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM).
Team Stats
MIN
UND
Shots
32
22
PPG
1
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
5
6
Penalty Mins
10
23
Faceoffs Won
23
28
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
1
Goals
2
Sh
4
A
0
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
4
A
2
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
6
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyDefense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
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