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Photo by: Bjorn Franke
Gophers Fall at SCSU in Top-Four Battle
1/7/2023 9:30:00 PM | Men's Hockey
'U' sees four-game win streak snapped
ST. CLOUD, Minn. - The No. 1/3 Minnesota men's hockey team suffered a 3-0 loss in a top-four matchup at No. 4 St. Cloud State Saturday night from the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
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The Golden Gophers put pressure on the Huskies all game, but could not break through and the home side scored two empty-net goals during the final minute of play in the first game of a home-and-home series.
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Two minutes into the contest, the visitors almost struck first as Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud worked a give-and-go at the offensive blueline after a Matthew Knies breakout pass. Snuggerud broke behind the defense and his backhand was stopped on a sprawling save by the SCSU goaltender. The Huskies had a surge following that play, only to be denied by the Gophers' Justen Close on a pair of point-blank chances.
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Minnesota held off the SCSU attack and delivered a penalty kill in the middle of the first frame as both teams were unable to find the back of the net in a scoreless period. That appeared to change at the 2:47 mark of the second stanza as Jaxon Nelson tipped in a shot from the point, but after video review, was deemed to be a high stick and the goal was waved off the board to the delight of the sellout crowd.
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Momentum stayed with the Maroon and Gold as it carried the action early in the middle period until a broken play behind the net led to a Huskies goal 9:09 into the frame. The home side went on the power play shortly following the goal that the Gophers successfully killed. Seconds after the visitors returned to full strength, Snuggerud rang an odd-angle shot off the crossbar as the deficit remained, 1-0. Bryce Brodzinski nearly pulled Minnesota even from inside the crease as Ryan Johnson found his fellow senior on a wraparound late in the second.
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Both teams were whistled for minor infractions in the final minute of the second and the Gophers dominated possession during 4-on-4 play on the fresh ice sheet at the start of the third. A man advantage allowed Minnesota to put pucks on goal, looking for the equalizer and SCSU held off the visitors. A late push by the Gophers was silenced and the Huskies capitalized with an empty net, scoring twice in the last 49 seconds for the 3-0 result.
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Close remained poised in goal all night, allowing the Gophers the chance to keep the game tight and the senior finished with 19 saves.
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Noteworthy
Minnesota was held without a goal for the first time this season and first since Mar. 28, 2021 ... The Gophers held a 23-22 advantage in shots on goal, while SCSU ended the night blocking 17 shots ... The announced attendance of 6,051 is more than 700 over the official capacity and the seventh different arena to have a sellout for a Gophers game this season.
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Coach Motzko's Comments
"I got no fault with how the Gophers played tonight, that was one hard-fought hockey game," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "We made one mistake and they scored on it."
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Next Up: Home vs. St. Cloud State (Jan. 8)
Minnesota closes its first series of 2023 on home ice facing the Huskies live on Bally Sports North and the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM / AM 1130 Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. The Gophers will honor both their 2002 and 2003 National Championship teams during in-game ceremonies at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
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The Golden Gophers put pressure on the Huskies all game, but could not break through and the home side scored two empty-net goals during the final minute of play in the first game of a home-and-home series.
Â
Two minutes into the contest, the visitors almost struck first as Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud worked a give-and-go at the offensive blueline after a Matthew Knies breakout pass. Snuggerud broke behind the defense and his backhand was stopped on a sprawling save by the SCSU goaltender. The Huskies had a surge following that play, only to be denied by the Gophers' Justen Close on a pair of point-blank chances.
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Minnesota held off the SCSU attack and delivered a penalty kill in the middle of the first frame as both teams were unable to find the back of the net in a scoreless period. That appeared to change at the 2:47 mark of the second stanza as Jaxon Nelson tipped in a shot from the point, but after video review, was deemed to be a high stick and the goal was waved off the board to the delight of the sellout crowd.
Â
Momentum stayed with the Maroon and Gold as it carried the action early in the middle period until a broken play behind the net led to a Huskies goal 9:09 into the frame. The home side went on the power play shortly following the goal that the Gophers successfully killed. Seconds after the visitors returned to full strength, Snuggerud rang an odd-angle shot off the crossbar as the deficit remained, 1-0. Bryce Brodzinski nearly pulled Minnesota even from inside the crease as Ryan Johnson found his fellow senior on a wraparound late in the second.
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Both teams were whistled for minor infractions in the final minute of the second and the Gophers dominated possession during 4-on-4 play on the fresh ice sheet at the start of the third. A man advantage allowed Minnesota to put pucks on goal, looking for the equalizer and SCSU held off the visitors. A late push by the Gophers was silenced and the Huskies capitalized with an empty net, scoring twice in the last 49 seconds for the 3-0 result.
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Close remained poised in goal all night, allowing the Gophers the chance to keep the game tight and the senior finished with 19 saves.
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Noteworthy
Minnesota was held without a goal for the first time this season and first since Mar. 28, 2021 ... The Gophers held a 23-22 advantage in shots on goal, while SCSU ended the night blocking 17 shots ... The announced attendance of 6,051 is more than 700 over the official capacity and the seventh different arena to have a sellout for a Gophers game this season.
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Coach Motzko's Comments
"I got no fault with how the Gophers played tonight, that was one hard-fought hockey game," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "We made one mistake and they scored on it."
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Next Up: Home vs. St. Cloud State (Jan. 8)
Minnesota closes its first series of 2023 on home ice facing the Huskies live on Bally Sports North and the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM / AM 1130 Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. The Gophers will honor both their 2002 and 2003 National Championship teams during in-game ceremonies at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
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