University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, February 19
University Park, PA
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
21-11-0, 16-6-0
6
at
4
Penn State
14-17-1, 5-16-1
1
2
3
F
Minnesota
0
3
3
6
Penn State
3
1
0
4
Photo by: Big Ten Network
Minnesota Rallies to Sweep PSU with 6-4 Win
2/19/2022 7:54:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota earned its third-straight sweep and sixth overall of the season.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Not even a three-goal deficit in the first period could stop the No. 5/6 Gopher men's hockey program from earning its third-straight sweep as Minnesota closed out the weekend with a 6-4 win over Penn State on Saturday.
After surrendering three goals to Nittany Lions to start the night, Minnesota (21-11-0 overall, 16-6-0-1-2-0 Big Ten) outscored Penn State (14-17-1, 5-16-1-1-1-1) 6-1 in the final 40 minutes of play.
Six 'U' skaters tallied multi-point performances with Ben Meyers leading the way with three assists in his first game back from the Olympics. Grant Cruikshank pocketed a pair of goals while Jackson LaCombe (one goal, one assist), Mike Koster (one goal, one assist), Sammy Walker (two assists) and Ben Brinkman (two assists) also contributed multiple points to the win. Aaron Huglen and Blake McLaughlin added goals for the Maroon & Gold.
Koster and McLaughlin started the rally before Cruikshank, Huglen and LaCombe combined for four-straight goals to close out the game. Huglen's tally gave the Gophers a power-play goal on one of their two opportunities while Minnesota did not commit a penalty in the series finale.
Justen Close led the Gophers to its first sweep at Penn State since 2017 with 23 saves to improve to 9-3-0 on the season.
Christian Sarlo, Xander Lamppa and Tyler Paquette scored for Penn State while Oskar Autio made 28 saves in net.
The Gophers held a 34-27 advantage in shots on the night including a 14-4 lead in the third period.
Noteworthy
Minnesota did not commit a penalty for the first time this season while the Gophers have not allowed a power-play goal in the last seven games…Meyers also won 10-of-13 faceoffs in addition to his three assists…the Gophers have now earned six sweep in the 2021-22 season while the team's 21 wins this year are already the second most under Motzko (24 in 2020-21).
Coach's Comments
"We just had a bad start, and then we played like we can play the last two periods. We needed a couple goals to get our juice going," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "We had contributions from a lot of guys in our lineup."
Next Up: Border Battle at 3M Arena at Mariucci
The Gophers close out the regular-season next weekend, hosting Wisconsin at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The series begins on Friday, Feb. 25 at 8:00 p.m. CT (TV: ESPNU; Stream: Watch ESPN; Radio: 1130 KTLK/103.5 FM) with the finale scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream; FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK/103.5 FM).
After surrendering three goals to Nittany Lions to start the night, Minnesota (21-11-0 overall, 16-6-0-1-2-0 Big Ten) outscored Penn State (14-17-1, 5-16-1-1-1-1) 6-1 in the final 40 minutes of play.
Six 'U' skaters tallied multi-point performances with Ben Meyers leading the way with three assists in his first game back from the Olympics. Grant Cruikshank pocketed a pair of goals while Jackson LaCombe (one goal, one assist), Mike Koster (one goal, one assist), Sammy Walker (two assists) and Ben Brinkman (two assists) also contributed multiple points to the win. Aaron Huglen and Blake McLaughlin added goals for the Maroon & Gold.
Koster and McLaughlin started the rally before Cruikshank, Huglen and LaCombe combined for four-straight goals to close out the game. Huglen's tally gave the Gophers a power-play goal on one of their two opportunities while Minnesota did not commit a penalty in the series finale.
Justen Close led the Gophers to its first sweep at Penn State since 2017 with 23 saves to improve to 9-3-0 on the season.
Christian Sarlo, Xander Lamppa and Tyler Paquette scored for Penn State while Oskar Autio made 28 saves in net.
The Gophers held a 34-27 advantage in shots on the night including a 14-4 lead in the third period.
Noteworthy
Minnesota did not commit a penalty for the first time this season while the Gophers have not allowed a power-play goal in the last seven games…Meyers also won 10-of-13 faceoffs in addition to his three assists…the Gophers have now earned six sweep in the 2021-22 season while the team's 21 wins this year are already the second most under Motzko (24 in 2020-21).
Coach's Comments
"We just had a bad start, and then we played like we can play the last two periods. We needed a couple goals to get our juice going," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "We had contributions from a lot of guys in our lineup."
Next Up: Border Battle at 3M Arena at Mariucci
The Gophers close out the regular-season next weekend, hosting Wisconsin at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The series begins on Friday, Feb. 25 at 8:00 p.m. CT (TV: ESPNU; Stream: Watch ESPN; Radio: 1130 KTLK/103.5 FM) with the finale scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream; FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK/103.5 FM).
Team Stats
UMN
PSU
Shots
34
27
PPG
1
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
0
3
Penalty Mins
0
14
Faceoffs Won
30
27
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
0
A
3
+/-
1
Goals
2
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
1
Players Mentioned
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's HockeyDefense
/ Men's HockeyDefense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
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