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Photo by: Joseph Weiser/Big Ten Network
Close Shuts Down Irish in 3-0 Road Win
1/14/2023 7:45:00 PM | Men's Hockey
38-save effort for the senior
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Justen Close shut down the home side as the Golden Gophers men's hockey team picked up a 3-0 victory at Notre Dame Saturday evening inside Compton Family Ice Arena.
Three goals during a stretch of 6:19 helped power Minnesota (17-6-1 overall, 11-2-1 B1G) over the Fighting Irish (10-11-3 overall, 5-7-2 B1G). Close dominated the entire night on the way to his fourth shutout of the season as the senior made 38 saves, the second-most of his career, while the offense scored at even strength, on the power play and shorthanded.
The Gophers were on the jump to start the second game of the weekend series, but a five-minute major penalty 2:27 into the contest forced the visitors to adjust and defend. Brock Faber pushed into the attack creating an offensive chance on the penalty kill before Minnesota erased the entire power play without conceding.
Momentum shifted to the Maroon and Gold when the Irish were whistled for a dangerous check-from-behind and given a five-minute penalty and game misconduct at the 8:41 mark. Neither side was able to capitalize on the extended opportunities with the man advantage as the contest remained scoreless.
Late in the first period, Minnesota broke the tie as Ryan Johnson's shot from the point deflected off an ND defender for a 1-0 lead with 2:15 remaining in the frame for the eventual game winner, the first of his four-year career. The home side was called for two penalties in the final 35 seconds and the Gophers went to a 5-on-3 power play into the beginning of the second period. It took just 1:13 for Logan Cooley to glide into the slot and wire a shot into the top corner, stretching the margin to 2-0.
Following a Minnesota penalty, Matthew Knies took it upon himself to carry play and score a highlight-reel, shorthanded tally. The sophomore intercepted a pass in the defensive zone, burst around two ND blueliners and slid the puck between the goalie's pads, making it 3-0 Gophers four minutes into the second stanza.
When called upon to preserve the lead, Close was at the top of his game and delivered three breakaway saves while on the power play. The senior made seven saves in a span of 1:16 in the middle of the period, keeping the Irish off the scoreboard and was credited with 19 saves in the second period alone.
ND continued to control the puck in the offensive zone during the third period, but the Gophers were up to the task and held off the home side in front of a sellout crowd.
Noteworthy
Cooley notched his 12th goal of the year to briefly match linemates Jimmy Snuggerud and Knies for the team lead before Knies put away his 13th less than three minutes later ... It was the team's second shorthanded goal of the year and both have come off the stick of Knies ... Johnson scored his second goal of the campaign and first since Nov. 18, 2022 at Michigan ... After being called for just one penalty Friday, the Irish totaled 25 penalty minutes in the series finale ... It was the second Saturday shutout for the Gophers over the Irish by similar 3-0 scorelines this year and third shutout at Notre Dame in the last six road contests ... The capacity crowd of 5,022 was the 10th-consecutive road sellout to watch Minnesota.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"We played really hard and Justen Close was outstanding in goal and he had to be for us to get the win," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "We survived tonight with a hard-fought, 3-0 win, but that's because our goalie was so good."
Next Up: Home vs. Michigan (Jan. 20)
The Gophers return to 3M Arena at Mariucci for their next two B1G series starting with a matchup against Michigan Jan. 20-21. Limited tickets remain for the series versus the defending conference tournament champion Wolverines. Catch the action live on Bally Sports North Friday night at 7 p.m. and tune in for the audio broadcast on the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
Three goals during a stretch of 6:19 helped power Minnesota (17-6-1 overall, 11-2-1 B1G) over the Fighting Irish (10-11-3 overall, 5-7-2 B1G). Close dominated the entire night on the way to his fourth shutout of the season as the senior made 38 saves, the second-most of his career, while the offense scored at even strength, on the power play and shorthanded.
The Gophers were on the jump to start the second game of the weekend series, but a five-minute major penalty 2:27 into the contest forced the visitors to adjust and defend. Brock Faber pushed into the attack creating an offensive chance on the penalty kill before Minnesota erased the entire power play without conceding.
Momentum shifted to the Maroon and Gold when the Irish were whistled for a dangerous check-from-behind and given a five-minute penalty and game misconduct at the 8:41 mark. Neither side was able to capitalize on the extended opportunities with the man advantage as the contest remained scoreless.
Late in the first period, Minnesota broke the tie as Ryan Johnson's shot from the point deflected off an ND defender for a 1-0 lead with 2:15 remaining in the frame for the eventual game winner, the first of his four-year career. The home side was called for two penalties in the final 35 seconds and the Gophers went to a 5-on-3 power play into the beginning of the second period. It took just 1:13 for Logan Cooley to glide into the slot and wire a shot into the top corner, stretching the margin to 2-0.
Following a Minnesota penalty, Matthew Knies took it upon himself to carry play and score a highlight-reel, shorthanded tally. The sophomore intercepted a pass in the defensive zone, burst around two ND blueliners and slid the puck between the goalie's pads, making it 3-0 Gophers four minutes into the second stanza.
When called upon to preserve the lead, Close was at the top of his game and delivered three breakaway saves while on the power play. The senior made seven saves in a span of 1:16 in the middle of the period, keeping the Irish off the scoreboard and was credited with 19 saves in the second period alone.
ND continued to control the puck in the offensive zone during the third period, but the Gophers were up to the task and held off the home side in front of a sellout crowd.
Noteworthy
Cooley notched his 12th goal of the year to briefly match linemates Jimmy Snuggerud and Knies for the team lead before Knies put away his 13th less than three minutes later ... It was the team's second shorthanded goal of the year and both have come off the stick of Knies ... Johnson scored his second goal of the campaign and first since Nov. 18, 2022 at Michigan ... After being called for just one penalty Friday, the Irish totaled 25 penalty minutes in the series finale ... It was the second Saturday shutout for the Gophers over the Irish by similar 3-0 scorelines this year and third shutout at Notre Dame in the last six road contests ... The capacity crowd of 5,022 was the 10th-consecutive road sellout to watch Minnesota.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"We played really hard and Justen Close was outstanding in goal and he had to be for us to get the win," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "We survived tonight with a hard-fought, 3-0 win, but that's because our goalie was so good."
Next Up: Home vs. Michigan (Jan. 20)
The Gophers return to 3M Arena at Mariucci for their next two B1G series starting with a matchup against Michigan Jan. 20-21. Limited tickets remain for the series versus the defending conference tournament champion Wolverines. Catch the action live on Bally Sports North Friday night at 7 p.m. and tune in for the audio broadcast on the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
Mic'd Up: Brody Lamb
Tuesday, December 16
Highlights: Gophers 5, Ohio State 6
Friday, December 05
Highlights: Gophers 6, Ohio State 3
Thursday, December 04
Highlights: Gophers 6, Denver 5
Saturday, November 29