University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, October 21
Grand Forks, N.D.
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
3-1-0
1
at
2
North Dakota
3-1-0
1
2
3
F
Minnesota
0
0
1
1
North Dakota
0
1
1
2
Team Stats
UMN
UND
Shots
22
34
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
6
2
Penalty Mins
12
4
Faceoffs Won
24
24
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
1
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
0
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's HockeyDefense
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyDefense
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Russell Hons
'U' Falls in Series Finale at UND
10/21/2023 9:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Nelson tallies lone Gopher goal
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The No. 1-ranked Golden Gophers men's hockey team could not come back from a two-goal deficit, falling 2-1 on the road against No. 5 North Dakota from Ralph Engelstad Arena Saturday night.
Minnesota (3-1-0 overall) got a goal from Jaxon Nelson with 12 minutes to play in the third period to close the margin to one and fought for the comeback but came up short to split the weekend series with the Fighting Hawks (3-1-0 overall).
The puck had barely dropped before each team had an odd-man rush that was turned aside as the contest began in a flourish. The frantic pace continued for the first four minutes and each netminder was tested by quality scoring chances. An early power play for UND was erased by the Maroon and Gold and the visitors had a man advantage of its own that was denied later in the frame. The game remained a 0-0 stalemate when the period ended thanks to 15 saves from Justen Close and six blocked shots.
The Fighting Hawks finally broke the tie, snapping Close's shutout streak at 153 minutes, 58 seconds, with a shot from the point that found its way through traffic at the 5:48 mark of the second period. The opening tally ignited the capacity crowd and led to consecutive penalties by the Gophers, who held off the UND attack both times. Minnesota got a late chance on the man advantage that was thwarted as it went into the locker room, trailing 1-0.
A bad line change less than a minute into the final frame allowed the home team to score from an odd angle and double its lead. The Gophers turned up their intensity from that point and generated pressure in the offensive zone when Cal Thomas had a bid from the point turned away. On the next shift, Rhett Pitlick took a Bryce Brodzinski pass and went alone on goal, but his quick shot went off the goalie's shoulder. Another penalty against Minnesota had to be killed before the visitors could mount a comeback.
That effort started at the 8:04 mark of the third period as Nelson redirected a Ryan Chesley shot into the back of the net, cutting the deficit in half. The momentum was cut short as the Gophers were called for their sixth infraction of the night, which limited the opportunities to push back. The Maroon and Gold pulled its goalie in the closing stages, searching for the equalizer, and were unable to get one through, suffering the 2-1 setback.
Noteworthy
Nelson's goal was the 25th tally of his college career and second this year ... Cal Thomas added an assist on the Nelson goal and the sophomore had a point in both games of the weekend series ... Chesley picked up his first point of the season via the primary assist ... The Gophers and Fighting Hawks now have split each of the last three series against each other ... Bryce Brodzinski skated in the 150th game of his Minnesota career Saturday, the most of any active player in the NCAA.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"There's a ton of positives out of the weekend and we're going to grow up and become a better hockey team," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "We better learn that you can't take penalties like that. We got worn down by killing penalties and North Dakota had a hard charge tonight."
Next Up: Home vs. Wisconsin (Oct. 26)
The Gophers return home for a two-game series to begin Big Ten Conference play as they host rival Wisconsin Oct. 26-27. Both games of the Border Battle are set for an 8 p.m. puck drop live on Big Ten Network and streaming on the Fox Sports app, while audio coverage will be available on the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
Minnesota (3-1-0 overall) got a goal from Jaxon Nelson with 12 minutes to play in the third period to close the margin to one and fought for the comeback but came up short to split the weekend series with the Fighting Hawks (3-1-0 overall).
The puck had barely dropped before each team had an odd-man rush that was turned aside as the contest began in a flourish. The frantic pace continued for the first four minutes and each netminder was tested by quality scoring chances. An early power play for UND was erased by the Maroon and Gold and the visitors had a man advantage of its own that was denied later in the frame. The game remained a 0-0 stalemate when the period ended thanks to 15 saves from Justen Close and six blocked shots.
The Fighting Hawks finally broke the tie, snapping Close's shutout streak at 153 minutes, 58 seconds, with a shot from the point that found its way through traffic at the 5:48 mark of the second period. The opening tally ignited the capacity crowd and led to consecutive penalties by the Gophers, who held off the UND attack both times. Minnesota got a late chance on the man advantage that was thwarted as it went into the locker room, trailing 1-0.
A bad line change less than a minute into the final frame allowed the home team to score from an odd angle and double its lead. The Gophers turned up their intensity from that point and generated pressure in the offensive zone when Cal Thomas had a bid from the point turned away. On the next shift, Rhett Pitlick took a Bryce Brodzinski pass and went alone on goal, but his quick shot went off the goalie's shoulder. Another penalty against Minnesota had to be killed before the visitors could mount a comeback.
That effort started at the 8:04 mark of the third period as Nelson redirected a Ryan Chesley shot into the back of the net, cutting the deficit in half. The momentum was cut short as the Gophers were called for their sixth infraction of the night, which limited the opportunities to push back. The Maroon and Gold pulled its goalie in the closing stages, searching for the equalizer, and were unable to get one through, suffering the 2-1 setback.
Noteworthy
Nelson's goal was the 25th tally of his college career and second this year ... Cal Thomas added an assist on the Nelson goal and the sophomore had a point in both games of the weekend series ... Chesley picked up his first point of the season via the primary assist ... The Gophers and Fighting Hawks now have split each of the last three series against each other ... Bryce Brodzinski skated in the 150th game of his Minnesota career Saturday, the most of any active player in the NCAA.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"There's a ton of positives out of the weekend and we're going to grow up and become a better hockey team," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "We better learn that you can't take penalties like that. We got worn down by killing penalties and North Dakota had a hard charge tonight."
Next Up: Home vs. Wisconsin (Oct. 26)
The Gophers return home for a two-game series to begin Big Ten Conference play as they host rival Wisconsin Oct. 26-27. Both games of the Border Battle are set for an 8 p.m. puck drop live on Big Ten Network and streaming on the Fox Sports app, while audio coverage will be available on the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
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