Gophers Take the Ice at Michigan State Dec. 2-3

MINNEAPOLIS - After a week away from league play, the No. 1/4 Minnesota men's hockey team is back to Big Ten Conference action as it concludes a six-game road swing with a trip to No. 11/13 Michigan State Dec. 2-3.

Both games will be on national television via the Big Ten Network starting Friday night at 5:30 p.m. (CT) before the series finale Saturday at 5 p.m. (CT). The matchups against the Spartans also will be available on the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM / AM 1130.

DIFFERING OPINIONS
The Golden Gophers skated to a series split at Arizona State, a team receiving votes in the national polls, last weekend and the voters were divided as well. Minnesota checks in as the No. 1 team in the country in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll, while dropping to No. 4 according to the DCU/USCHO.com poll. It's the fourth time the Maroon and Gold have been No. 1 in a weekly ranking and the No. 4 spot is the lowest it's been ranked at any point this season.

HISTORICALLY DIFFICULT
When the Maroon and Gold faced off against No. 3 Michigan in late November, it marked the sixth-consecutive series where Minnesota battled a team ranked in the top 12 of the national polls and it handled that challenge to the tune of an 8-4 record. The series against the Wolverines also was the fourth time the Gophers took on an opponent ranked No. 10 or better. Since the USCHO polls were introduced 22 years ago, this has been the most difficult Gophers' schedule to date, having played 12 of their first 14 games against teams that highly ranked.

HISTORY WITH THE SPARTANS
Historically, the Gophers have dominated the series against Michigan State to the tune of a 129-50-16 (.703) all-time record. Minnesota has won nine-consecutive meetings with the Spartans, including all four matchups a season ago. Matthew Knies and Rhett Pitlick each totaled four points versus MSU last year and Aaron Huglen had goals in back-to-back contests. Both Jack LaFontaine and Justen Close secured sweeps in goal as the Gophers outscored the Spartans by a 17-7 margin in the four outings during the 2021-22 season.

SLIGHT BUMP, STILL DRIVING
Minnesota has won seven of its last nine games, including six of seven league outings, to remain in first place in the Big Ten Conference standings. The Gophers have averaged nearly four goals per game offensively and outscored their opposition by a 35-21 margin in that stretch. Thirteen different players have provided the goal scoring, while 18 guys have tallied at least one point as almost the entire lineup has contributed. The surge has led to the nation's eighth-best scoring margin (+1.25) and pushed the scoring offense to third in the NCAA (3.88 goals per game).

STAR FROM THE BLUE LINE
Thanks to his four-point series and first NCAA goal at Michigan, Luke Mittelstadt earned B1G First Star of the Week honors Nov. 22. The freshman had a career day Nov. 17 when he recorded assists on the opening two goals before adding the first goal of his collegiate career in the third period. He followed that up with another assist Nov. 18, again on the first goal of the night.

YOUNGSTERS STEP UP
After its veterans led the charge during a road sweep at No. 3 Michigan getting 11 points from the seniors, it was the youngsters that provided the offense at Arizona State last weekend. Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud posted multi-point efforts in each contest against the Sun Devils, combining for eight points, while their fellow freshmen added three more points. The sophomore class, led by two points from Matthew Knies, tacked on four points.

SPECIAL TEAMS = SUCCESS
During its recent stretch of quality play winning seven of nine games, Minnesota has used its special teams to create that success as all seven wins have included a power-play tally. The Gophers have scored eight power-play goals and converted at a 24 percent rate in that stretch. Five different players have scored on the man advantage in that time, while the penalty kill has erased 22 of the previous 24 opponent chances when shorthanded.

DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING
Minnesota boasts nine players that have reached double-digit scoring in just 16 outings this season led by Jimmy Snuggerud's 20 points. His linemates, Logan Cooley (16) and Matthew Knies (16), are close behind, while seniors Jackson LaCombe and Jaxon Nelson are at the 15-point mark. Four other players recently joined those in double figures in Bryce Brodzinski, Mason Nevers, Brock Faber and Rhett Pitlick.

FRESHMEN A FORCE
Minnesota's 11 freshmen have contributed on both ends of the ice, but especially offensively where the class has combined for 23 goals and 36 assists, accounting for 37 percent of the team's goal scoring. Jimmy Snuggerud's 10 goals paces the squad, while Logan Cooley, Connor Kurth, Brody Lamb and John Mittelstadt all have multiple goals. From the blue line, Luke Mittelstadt is the second-highest scoring freshman defenseman in the B1G this year totaling nine points.

LOCALLY SOURCED
Holding the moniker of the State of Hockey, Minnesota is known for its strong history of players that start skating on local ice sheets and backyard ponds. That has fed a deep pipeline of talent to colleges around the country, most importantly to the University of Minnesota. The Gophers' roster features a collection of 26 student-athletes, 20 of which were born and raised within the state lines. Even more impressive is the fact that 16 of the Minnesotans on the team are from within 40 miles of campus.

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Players Mentioned

Bryce Brodzinski

Justen Close

Logan Cooley

Brock Faber

Aaron Huglen

Matthew Knies

Connor Kurth

Jackson LaCombe

Brody Lamb

John Mittelstadt

Luke Mittelstadt

Jaxon Nelson

Mason Nevers

Rhett Pitlick

Jimmy Snuggerud