University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, February 24
8:00 PM
University of Minnesota
24-8-1, 18-4-1
4
vs
0
Ohio State
18-12-3, 11-10-2
1
2
3
F
Ohio St.
0
0
0
0
Minnesota
0
4
0
4
Team Stats
OSU
MIN
Shots
23
38
PPG
0
2
SHG
0
0
Penalties
7
3
Penalty Mins
14
6
Faceoffs Won
31
37
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
2
Goals
2
Sh
4
A
2
+/-
2
Goals
1
Sh
4
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
2
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
4
A
0
Players Mentioned
Goaltender
/ Men's HockeyDefense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyDefense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Eric Miller
Koster's Four Points Leads No. 1 Gophers over OSU
2/24/2023 11:45:00 PM | Men's Hockey
'U' shuts out Buckeyes
MINNEAPOLIS - Mike Koster tallied the first multi-goal game of his career during a four-point effort and the No. 1 Minnesota men's hockey team got three goals from its blue line in a 4-0 shutout over No. 8/7 Ohio State Friday night from 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Playing in his 100th career game, Koster shined to the tune of two goals and two assists, having a role in every goal scored Friday. Three goals by the Golden Gophers (24-8-1 overall, 18-4-1 B1G) in a two-minute stretch of the second period turned a one-goal game into a lopsided affair against the Buckeyes (18-12-3 overall, 11-10-2 B1G). After going 0-for-3 on the man advantage during the first period, Minnesota capitalized on the undisciplined play of OSU with a 2-for-4 effort in the second.
OSU was able to carry a bulk of the possession early in the action and forced the home goaltender Justen Close to make seven saves five minutes into the contest. Momentum swung to Minnesota thanks to a power play as it picked up the offense but could not get one through against the NCAA's top penalty-killing squad. The Buckeye goalie was assessed two penalties late in the opening frame and the Maroon and Gold went back to the man advantage and were unsuccessful both times as the teams went to the locker room scoreless. The Gophers had plenty of chances firing 11 of the period's final 13 shots.
Minnesota continued to stifle the OSU attack and held the visitors without a shot on goal for more than 10 minutes and just four shots in a 24-minute stretch between the two periods. In his return to the lineup after missing a week for injury, the captain took it upon himself to break the deadlock and gave the Maroon and Gold a 1-0 lead. Brock Faber picked up the puck from Rhett Pitlick at the circle and cut to the crease along the goal line. The Hobey Baker candidate's initial shot was stopped, but he was persistent and put away the rebound, bringing the near-capacity crowd to its feet with 8:03 to play in the stanza.
Nineteen seconds after going to a 5-on-3 advantage, Koster struck for his first of the night when the junior wired a shot through from the left circle, making it a 2-0 cushion. Jimmy Snuggerud buried a one-timer 44 seconds later and stretched the margin to 3-0 off a beautiful cross-ice feed from Koster. The onslaught continued thanks to another Koster goal that snuck through the OSU netminder's pads with 1:44 to play in the second period on a pass from Matthew Knies as the Gophers struck for three goals in a span of 2:02.
With no need to press the offense during the third frame, Minnesota played a simple game and made sure to limit the opposition's chances. The Gophers maintained their dominance in the shot department and held a 38-23 margin for the night, securing the 4-0 win.
Close was ready when called upon and turned away all 23 shots he faced, recording his B1G-best sixth shutout of the campaign.
Noteworthy
Koster showcased his offensive abilities from the blue line, scoring a career-high four points, all of which came in the second period ... The Chaska, Minn., native now has 10 points over his last seven games for a career-best 23 points this season ... Cooley picked up a pair of helpers to push his team and NCAA-leading assist total to 31 and tied Ryan Kraft (1994-95) for ninth in program history with 46 points as a freshman ... The Pittsburgh, Pa., native extended his season-long point streak to 10 games and has a point in 19 of 22 B1G games played ... Snuggerud registered his 20th goal of the year, becoming the first Minnesota freshman to reach the 20-goal mark since Jay Barriball in 2006-07 and just the fourth since 1999 ... Faber scored his fourth goal of the season and first since Dec. 3, increasing his already career high goal total, while adding an assist for his 22nd point as a defenseman ... It was the first game-winning goal of Faber's career with the Maroon and Gold ... Pitlick continued his impressive run as the sophomore has points in six of his last seven outings and has 19 for the year ... Close's sixth shutout this season was the ninth of his career, which moves him into a tie for seventh in Gopher men's hockey history.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"I'm going to say the same thing I said last week; I liked how we played," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "Mike Koster was great tonight and he's been playing that way for a while now. It's great to see him get rewarded too. He's got a heart of gold and he's a competitor."
Next Up: Home vs. Ohio State (Feb. 25)
Minnesota will honor nine senior student-athletes and student managers Saturday following its regular season finale against the Buckeyes. Puck drop is set for 4:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network and the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
Playing in his 100th career game, Koster shined to the tune of two goals and two assists, having a role in every goal scored Friday. Three goals by the Golden Gophers (24-8-1 overall, 18-4-1 B1G) in a two-minute stretch of the second period turned a one-goal game into a lopsided affair against the Buckeyes (18-12-3 overall, 11-10-2 B1G). After going 0-for-3 on the man advantage during the first period, Minnesota capitalized on the undisciplined play of OSU with a 2-for-4 effort in the second.
OSU was able to carry a bulk of the possession early in the action and forced the home goaltender Justen Close to make seven saves five minutes into the contest. Momentum swung to Minnesota thanks to a power play as it picked up the offense but could not get one through against the NCAA's top penalty-killing squad. The Buckeye goalie was assessed two penalties late in the opening frame and the Maroon and Gold went back to the man advantage and were unsuccessful both times as the teams went to the locker room scoreless. The Gophers had plenty of chances firing 11 of the period's final 13 shots.
Minnesota continued to stifle the OSU attack and held the visitors without a shot on goal for more than 10 minutes and just four shots in a 24-minute stretch between the two periods. In his return to the lineup after missing a week for injury, the captain took it upon himself to break the deadlock and gave the Maroon and Gold a 1-0 lead. Brock Faber picked up the puck from Rhett Pitlick at the circle and cut to the crease along the goal line. The Hobey Baker candidate's initial shot was stopped, but he was persistent and put away the rebound, bringing the near-capacity crowd to its feet with 8:03 to play in the stanza.
Nineteen seconds after going to a 5-on-3 advantage, Koster struck for his first of the night when the junior wired a shot through from the left circle, making it a 2-0 cushion. Jimmy Snuggerud buried a one-timer 44 seconds later and stretched the margin to 3-0 off a beautiful cross-ice feed from Koster. The onslaught continued thanks to another Koster goal that snuck through the OSU netminder's pads with 1:44 to play in the second period on a pass from Matthew Knies as the Gophers struck for three goals in a span of 2:02.
With no need to press the offense during the third frame, Minnesota played a simple game and made sure to limit the opposition's chances. The Gophers maintained their dominance in the shot department and held a 38-23 margin for the night, securing the 4-0 win.
Close was ready when called upon and turned away all 23 shots he faced, recording his B1G-best sixth shutout of the campaign.
Noteworthy
Koster showcased his offensive abilities from the blue line, scoring a career-high four points, all of which came in the second period ... The Chaska, Minn., native now has 10 points over his last seven games for a career-best 23 points this season ... Cooley picked up a pair of helpers to push his team and NCAA-leading assist total to 31 and tied Ryan Kraft (1994-95) for ninth in program history with 46 points as a freshman ... The Pittsburgh, Pa., native extended his season-long point streak to 10 games and has a point in 19 of 22 B1G games played ... Snuggerud registered his 20th goal of the year, becoming the first Minnesota freshman to reach the 20-goal mark since Jay Barriball in 2006-07 and just the fourth since 1999 ... Faber scored his fourth goal of the season and first since Dec. 3, increasing his already career high goal total, while adding an assist for his 22nd point as a defenseman ... It was the first game-winning goal of Faber's career with the Maroon and Gold ... Pitlick continued his impressive run as the sophomore has points in six of his last seven outings and has 19 for the year ... Close's sixth shutout this season was the ninth of his career, which moves him into a tie for seventh in Gopher men's hockey history.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"I'm going to say the same thing I said last week; I liked how we played," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "Mike Koster was great tonight and he's been playing that way for a while now. It's great to see him get rewarded too. He's got a heart of gold and he's a competitor."
Next Up: Home vs. Ohio State (Feb. 25)
Minnesota will honor nine senior student-athletes and student managers Saturday following its regular season finale against the Buckeyes. Puck drop is set for 4:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network and the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule
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Friday, July 18
Meet The Newcomers: Jacob Rombach
Friday, July 11