University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, February 11
Madison, Wis.
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
21-8-1, 15-4-1
1
at
3
Wisconsin
11-19-0, 4-16-0
1
2
3
F
Minnesota
1
0
0
1
Wisconsin
1
2
0
3
Team Stats
MIN
WIS
Shots
33
29
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
2
3
Penalty Mins
4
6
Faceoffs Won
22
26
Game Leaders
+/-
-2
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
4
A
0
Players Mentioned
Goaltender
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's HockeyDefense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Larry Radloff/The Rink Live
'U' Falls Saturday in Series Split at Wisconsin
2/11/2023 8:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Snuggerud reaches 40-point mark
MADISON, Wis. - The No. 1 Golden Gophers men's hockey team scored the opening goal at Wisconsin Saturday evening but were unable to hold the lead in a 3-1 loss inside the Kohl Center.
Mike Koster got the only goal for Minnesota (21-8-1 overall, 15-4-1 B1G) as the Badgers (11-19-0 overall, 4-16-0 B1G) snapped a six-game losing streak in the Border Battle.
The Maroon and Gold came out of the gates on a mission and generated multiple looks at the Wisconsin goal. That pressure led to the Gophers getting a man advantage nine minutes into the contest but were denied on the power play. Justen Close had to come up with a pair of saves to keep game scoreless late in the frame, including a quick right pad save off a deflected chance.
The saves allowed the visitors to strike for the opening goal as a Koster shot from the point found its way into the back of the net with 1:32 remaining in the period. The junior started the play with a stretch pass to Logan Cooley as he and fellow freshman Jimmy Snuggerud picked up assists on the goal. Wisconsin answered back as it got the equalizer a minute later and the teams took a 1-1 tie into the locker room.
The second period had a frantic energy as each side put quality chances on target, searching for the go-ahead tally. It was the Badgers that broke the deadlock at the midpoint of the frame, scoring on a rebound. The lead appeared to be short lived as John Mittelstadt forced a neutral zone turnover and Connor Kurth slid the puck under the netminder's pads off the carom, but the play was challenged and overturned for too-many-men on the ice. Minnesota almost pulled even the very next shift as Brody Lamb's tip went off the crossbar. The home side added to its lead, getting a goal with 5:51 to play in the second for a 3-1 advantage that held until intermission.
Minnesota came out of the break and picked up the intensity across every line in the third period, creating chance after chance. Desperately looking for a spark, the Gophers fired 14 shots on goal and outshot the Badgers by nine during the frame. The visitors were unable to get another goal through and closed the weekend with a series split.
Noteworthy
Snuggerud became Minnesota's first freshman to hit the 40-point mark in a single season since 2011-12 when Kyle Rau tallied 43 points and the Chaska, Minn., native is the sixth Gopher to reach the milestone since 2000 ... Koster's goal was his third of the season and the junior has tallied a point in four-straight games and eight of his previous 12 ... Cooley extended his team-best assist total to 24 ... Close made 24 saves in the loss ... Minnesota was held to less than two goals for just the second time in 30 games played this season ... The Gophers still can clinch the Big Ten Conference championship tonight with a Michigan State win over Michigan.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"Mike played very well all weekend, very well," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "He is a warrior and has a lot of compete in him. He stood very tall for us this weekend."
Next Up: Away at Penn State (Feb. 17)
The Gophers head to nationally-ranked Penn State for their final road series of the regular season Feb. 17-18. The weekend gets started Friday at 5:30 p.m. (CT) on the Big Ten Network and Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
Mike Koster got the only goal for Minnesota (21-8-1 overall, 15-4-1 B1G) as the Badgers (11-19-0 overall, 4-16-0 B1G) snapped a six-game losing streak in the Border Battle.
The Maroon and Gold came out of the gates on a mission and generated multiple looks at the Wisconsin goal. That pressure led to the Gophers getting a man advantage nine minutes into the contest but were denied on the power play. Justen Close had to come up with a pair of saves to keep game scoreless late in the frame, including a quick right pad save off a deflected chance.
The saves allowed the visitors to strike for the opening goal as a Koster shot from the point found its way into the back of the net with 1:32 remaining in the period. The junior started the play with a stretch pass to Logan Cooley as he and fellow freshman Jimmy Snuggerud picked up assists on the goal. Wisconsin answered back as it got the equalizer a minute later and the teams took a 1-1 tie into the locker room.
The second period had a frantic energy as each side put quality chances on target, searching for the go-ahead tally. It was the Badgers that broke the deadlock at the midpoint of the frame, scoring on a rebound. The lead appeared to be short lived as John Mittelstadt forced a neutral zone turnover and Connor Kurth slid the puck under the netminder's pads off the carom, but the play was challenged and overturned for too-many-men on the ice. Minnesota almost pulled even the very next shift as Brody Lamb's tip went off the crossbar. The home side added to its lead, getting a goal with 5:51 to play in the second for a 3-1 advantage that held until intermission.
Minnesota came out of the break and picked up the intensity across every line in the third period, creating chance after chance. Desperately looking for a spark, the Gophers fired 14 shots on goal and outshot the Badgers by nine during the frame. The visitors were unable to get another goal through and closed the weekend with a series split.
Noteworthy
Snuggerud became Minnesota's first freshman to hit the 40-point mark in a single season since 2011-12 when Kyle Rau tallied 43 points and the Chaska, Minn., native is the sixth Gopher to reach the milestone since 2000 ... Koster's goal was his third of the season and the junior has tallied a point in four-straight games and eight of his previous 12 ... Cooley extended his team-best assist total to 24 ... Close made 24 saves in the loss ... Minnesota was held to less than two goals for just the second time in 30 games played this season ... The Gophers still can clinch the Big Ten Conference championship tonight with a Michigan State win over Michigan.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"Mike played very well all weekend, very well," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "He is a warrior and has a lot of compete in him. He stood very tall for us this weekend."
Next Up: Away at Penn State (Feb. 17)
The Gophers head to nationally-ranked Penn State for their final road series of the regular season Feb. 17-18. The weekend gets started Friday at 5:30 p.m. (CT) on the Big Ten Network and 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