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Friday, February 2
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Minnesota Travels for Border Battle Rivalry Feb. 2-3
2/1/2024 9:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Second-straight weekend of top-10 series
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 9 Minnesota men's hockey team looks to return the favor in a Border Battle rematch against the fourth-ranked Badgers of Wisconsin Feb. 2-3 at Kohl Center.
Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. both nights, streaming live on B1G+ along with a free, audio broadcast via the Gopher Radio Network 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM.
HOW TO WATCH ALL SEASON
Minnesota and FOX 9 have agreed to a local television broadcast partnership for 10 home games and four road games in 2023-24. This is in addition to the 11 games picked by the Big Ten Network, seven home and four away, along with one airing on FS1 during the campaign. As always, check the schedule page on GopherSports.com for all the latest information and viewing options for every contest. Other FOX affiliates around the area have added Gopher hockey to their coverage with select games available on KTTC (Rochester, Mason City, Austin, Albert Lea), KVRR (Fargo), KQDS (Duluth), and KCRG (Cedar Rapids).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
The Gophers scored eight times in the sweep over Robert Morris (Jan. 12-13) and did so thanks to eight different goal scorers. The next weekend against Ohio State, Minnesota did something similar as eight players recorded at least one of the team's 11 goals during the series sweep. It is the most goal scorers in a single series this season, one more than the seven that had a tally against Minnesota Duluth (Nov. 3-4). The eight scorers versus the Colonials were just the third time all season where every goal during a series came from the stick of a different player. In total, 17 separate skaters have scored a goal for the Maroon and Gold with four that have reached double digits in Jimmy Snuggerud (18), Rhett Pitlick (15), Bryce Brodzinski (13) and Brody Lamb (10).
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
The Gophers are averaging 4.7 goals per game in their 15 victories and scored four or more times in 14 of the 15 wins but have been held to just 2.3 goals per game across seven losses during the 2023-24 campaign. A major difference for Minnesota is the power play as it holds a 32.1 percent (17-of-53) success rate when winning, compared to a 10.0 (2-of-20) rate in setbacks. The Maroon and Gold also average just 6.2 minutes in the penalty box per game in victories, while spending 8.9 minutes per game in the penalty box during losses.
GIVE US MOORE
Known for his blazing speed around the rink, the play-making ability of Oliver Moore also has been on full display for the Gophers in 2023-24. The freshman leads all Minnesota forwards with 19 assists and has 13 points during a career-long, seven-game point streak, tying the longest streak by a Minnesota skater all year. After his second-consecutive, four-point weekend, he was named the Big Ten Conference Second Star of the Week (Jan. 30) with three goals and an assist in a road split at league-leading Michigan State. Moore tallied the first multi-goal effort of his career Saturday (Jan. 27) along with his third three-point game of the year. He scored in back-to-back games for the first time as a Gopher following his first B1G goal in the series opener. The Mounds View, Minn., product tallied the first game-winning goal of his tenure against Robert Morris (Jan. 12) that snapped a 13-game goalless drought and started a run of four goals across the previous six outings.
HISTORY WITH THE BADGERS
Minnesota holds an all-time record of 183-103-24 (.629) in the series against the Badgers, including three-straight losses after dropping both games at home in October to begin Big Ten Conference action. Jimmy Clark was the only player for the Maroon and Gold with multiple points during the first series versus Wisconsin this season as the freshman had his first collegiate points with an assist in the opener before a goal in game two. The Gophers are 12-5-1 in the last 18 games played at Kohl Center, but five of the past seven trips, and three straight, have resulted in a series split.
INSIDE LOOK AT WISCONSIN
The Badgers are 10-1-1 at home this year and remain the only NCAA team to reach the 20-win mark, sitting in second place in the Big Ten Conference standings after picking up two points during a road trip to Michigan last weekend. Wisconsin holds the nation's top scoring defense, allowing an average of 1.9 goals per game, but surrendered 11 to the Wolverines. The Badgers rank third in the country behind an 87.9 percent penalty kill and given up only 11 power-play goals in 26 games, four coming versus Michigan. They've held opponents scoreless on the man advantage in 11 of the past 13 games before last weekend's series. Wisconsin has six players between the 22- and 19-point mark for a balanced offensive approach, while goaltender Kyle McClellan has made 23 starts and owns a 1.92 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage, ranking fourth and third, respectively, in the nation.
PLAYING IN FRONT
During their recent string of success with six wins in seven games, the Gophers have enjoyed playing with a lead and only trailed for a total of 2 minutes and 29 seconds. Minnesota fell behind Colorado College (Jan. 8) early before getting the tying goal 2:03 later and faced another quick deficit versus Robert Morris (Jan. 12) that lasted just 23 seconds until Jaxon Nelson pulled the home side even in the first period. The Maroon and Gold never faced a deficit against Ohio State (Jan. 19-20) on the way to their first Big Ten Conference sweep of the season and only trailed for four seconds during the road split at Michigan State last weekend.
THREE CHEERS FOR PITLICK
Rhett Pitlick has been chosen as the Big Ten Conference Second Star of the Week (Jan. 23, Dec. 5, Nov. 7) three times this season and is one of two B1G skaters with three weekly honors in 2023-24. He posted his first collegiate hat trick and added an assist during a career-best, four-point night to open the weekend versus Ohio State (Jan. 19) and tacked on his fourth goal Saturday night. The junior also had five points during an early December split at No. 18 Penn State, contributing to five of the team's seven total goals. Pitlick had the NCAA's longest goal streak this season when he scored in seven-straight outings from Nov. 17 to Dec. 8, while he posted 14 goals in a 14-game span from Nov. 17 to Jan. 20, which was two more than any other skater in the nation during that stretch. His 20 points in 16 league outings leads all B1G skaters and he continues to pace the Gophers with 29 total points.
CLOSE STACKING WINS
Justen Close was recently named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List for the third-straight season and was selected as a semifinalist in each of the previous two years. Behind a brilliant weekend between the pipes for Minnesota, he was named the B1G First Star of the Week (Oct. 24). The graduate student made 25 saves in a road win at No. 5 North Dakota for his second-straight shutout before his streak was snapped at 153:58 in the second period Oct. 21. Close turned away 57-of-59 shots faced against the Fighting Hawks for a 1.01 goals-against average and a .966 save percentage. The Kindersley, Saskatchewan, native sits two shutouts shy of the program record of 13 held by Kellen Briggs and Adam Wilcox. Close became the 13th goaltender in program history to reach 50 career victories during a home win over Colorado College (Jan. 8) and was the first to reach the milestone since Eric Schierhorn on Nov. 4, 2017. He has since increased his career win total to 54 games, tying Steve DeBus (1995-98) for eighth all-time at Minnesota.
BRODZINSKI BREAKING THROUGH
After going a season-long three games without reaching the scoresheet, fifth-year senior Bryce Brodzinski responded by registering seven points over his last six games. That includes two of his six multi-point outings this season, which has pushed him to third on the Gophers' scoring list with 26 total points. The Blaine, Minn., native also owns a plus-6 rating during the last three series following a minus-2 stretch the three weeks prior. Brodzinski's 26 points mark the third-consecutive season where he has eclipsed 25 points as he chases his career-best output of 31 points from a year ago.
HUGLEN IN RHYTHM
Aaron Huglen is quietly putting together a run of offensive production where he has seven points over his last 10 games, including a season-best, three-game point streak from Jan. 13-20. The junior has shined in the final game of a weekend, scoring a goal in each of the previous three series finales and four of the past five overall. After not recording a game-winning goal for nearly two years, he has put away the eventual game winner in Minnesota's last two wins against Ohio State (Jan. 20) and Michigan State (Jan. 27).
NATION'S BEST AT AVOIDING THE PENALTY BOX
The Gophers were called for double-digit penalty minutes in three-straight games during the season's first month but has drastically changed that narrative over the last two months. Minnesota now leads the nation, averaging 6.96 penalty minutes per game, sitting in the box for six minutes or less in nine of the previous 10 outings. That includes not allowing a single power-play opportunity during a home win over Robert Morris (Jan. 13) where the team's only penalty came on matching minors. The penalty kill has improved from game one of a series into game two as six of the last seven power-play goals allowed by the Gophers have all come in the series opener, while shutting out opponents in seven of the last eight series finales.
SHOWCASING THE STATE OF HOCKEY
With five of the six members of the Gophers freshman class hailing from the State of Hockey as well as graduate transfer Nick Michel, the 2023-24 roster now features nearly 90 percent homegrown talent. Of the 26 players on the team, 23 grew up and played youth hockey inside the state lines, including all 22 skaters. Even more impressive is the fact that 17 of the Minnesotans on the team are from within 40 miles of campus. In total, 233 student-athletes on NCAA rosters are from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, nearly 100 more than any other state in the country.
Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. both nights, streaming live on B1G+ along with a free, audio broadcast via the Gopher Radio Network 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM.
HOW TO WATCH ALL SEASON
Minnesota and FOX 9 have agreed to a local television broadcast partnership for 10 home games and four road games in 2023-24. This is in addition to the 11 games picked by the Big Ten Network, seven home and four away, along with one airing on FS1 during the campaign. As always, check the schedule page on GopherSports.com for all the latest information and viewing options for every contest. Other FOX affiliates around the area have added Gopher hockey to their coverage with select games available on KTTC (Rochester, Mason City, Austin, Albert Lea), KVRR (Fargo), KQDS (Duluth), and KCRG (Cedar Rapids).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
The Gophers scored eight times in the sweep over Robert Morris (Jan. 12-13) and did so thanks to eight different goal scorers. The next weekend against Ohio State, Minnesota did something similar as eight players recorded at least one of the team's 11 goals during the series sweep. It is the most goal scorers in a single series this season, one more than the seven that had a tally against Minnesota Duluth (Nov. 3-4). The eight scorers versus the Colonials were just the third time all season where every goal during a series came from the stick of a different player. In total, 17 separate skaters have scored a goal for the Maroon and Gold with four that have reached double digits in Jimmy Snuggerud (18), Rhett Pitlick (15), Bryce Brodzinski (13) and Brody Lamb (10).
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
The Gophers are averaging 4.7 goals per game in their 15 victories and scored four or more times in 14 of the 15 wins but have been held to just 2.3 goals per game across seven losses during the 2023-24 campaign. A major difference for Minnesota is the power play as it holds a 32.1 percent (17-of-53) success rate when winning, compared to a 10.0 (2-of-20) rate in setbacks. The Maroon and Gold also average just 6.2 minutes in the penalty box per game in victories, while spending 8.9 minutes per game in the penalty box during losses.
GIVE US MOORE
Known for his blazing speed around the rink, the play-making ability of Oliver Moore also has been on full display for the Gophers in 2023-24. The freshman leads all Minnesota forwards with 19 assists and has 13 points during a career-long, seven-game point streak, tying the longest streak by a Minnesota skater all year. After his second-consecutive, four-point weekend, he was named the Big Ten Conference Second Star of the Week (Jan. 30) with three goals and an assist in a road split at league-leading Michigan State. Moore tallied the first multi-goal effort of his career Saturday (Jan. 27) along with his third three-point game of the year. He scored in back-to-back games for the first time as a Gopher following his first B1G goal in the series opener. The Mounds View, Minn., product tallied the first game-winning goal of his tenure against Robert Morris (Jan. 12) that snapped a 13-game goalless drought and started a run of four goals across the previous six outings.
HISTORY WITH THE BADGERS
Minnesota holds an all-time record of 183-103-24 (.629) in the series against the Badgers, including three-straight losses after dropping both games at home in October to begin Big Ten Conference action. Jimmy Clark was the only player for the Maroon and Gold with multiple points during the first series versus Wisconsin this season as the freshman had his first collegiate points with an assist in the opener before a goal in game two. The Gophers are 12-5-1 in the last 18 games played at Kohl Center, but five of the past seven trips, and three straight, have resulted in a series split.
INSIDE LOOK AT WISCONSIN
The Badgers are 10-1-1 at home this year and remain the only NCAA team to reach the 20-win mark, sitting in second place in the Big Ten Conference standings after picking up two points during a road trip to Michigan last weekend. Wisconsin holds the nation's top scoring defense, allowing an average of 1.9 goals per game, but surrendered 11 to the Wolverines. The Badgers rank third in the country behind an 87.9 percent penalty kill and given up only 11 power-play goals in 26 games, four coming versus Michigan. They've held opponents scoreless on the man advantage in 11 of the past 13 games before last weekend's series. Wisconsin has six players between the 22- and 19-point mark for a balanced offensive approach, while goaltender Kyle McClellan has made 23 starts and owns a 1.92 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage, ranking fourth and third, respectively, in the nation.
PLAYING IN FRONT
During their recent string of success with six wins in seven games, the Gophers have enjoyed playing with a lead and only trailed for a total of 2 minutes and 29 seconds. Minnesota fell behind Colorado College (Jan. 8) early before getting the tying goal 2:03 later and faced another quick deficit versus Robert Morris (Jan. 12) that lasted just 23 seconds until Jaxon Nelson pulled the home side even in the first period. The Maroon and Gold never faced a deficit against Ohio State (Jan. 19-20) on the way to their first Big Ten Conference sweep of the season and only trailed for four seconds during the road split at Michigan State last weekend.
THREE CHEERS FOR PITLICK
Rhett Pitlick has been chosen as the Big Ten Conference Second Star of the Week (Jan. 23, Dec. 5, Nov. 7) three times this season and is one of two B1G skaters with three weekly honors in 2023-24. He posted his first collegiate hat trick and added an assist during a career-best, four-point night to open the weekend versus Ohio State (Jan. 19) and tacked on his fourth goal Saturday night. The junior also had five points during an early December split at No. 18 Penn State, contributing to five of the team's seven total goals. Pitlick had the NCAA's longest goal streak this season when he scored in seven-straight outings from Nov. 17 to Dec. 8, while he posted 14 goals in a 14-game span from Nov. 17 to Jan. 20, which was two more than any other skater in the nation during that stretch. His 20 points in 16 league outings leads all B1G skaters and he continues to pace the Gophers with 29 total points.
CLOSE STACKING WINS
Justen Close was recently named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List for the third-straight season and was selected as a semifinalist in each of the previous two years. Behind a brilliant weekend between the pipes for Minnesota, he was named the B1G First Star of the Week (Oct. 24). The graduate student made 25 saves in a road win at No. 5 North Dakota for his second-straight shutout before his streak was snapped at 153:58 in the second period Oct. 21. Close turned away 57-of-59 shots faced against the Fighting Hawks for a 1.01 goals-against average and a .966 save percentage. The Kindersley, Saskatchewan, native sits two shutouts shy of the program record of 13 held by Kellen Briggs and Adam Wilcox. Close became the 13th goaltender in program history to reach 50 career victories during a home win over Colorado College (Jan. 8) and was the first to reach the milestone since Eric Schierhorn on Nov. 4, 2017. He has since increased his career win total to 54 games, tying Steve DeBus (1995-98) for eighth all-time at Minnesota.
BRODZINSKI BREAKING THROUGH
After going a season-long three games without reaching the scoresheet, fifth-year senior Bryce Brodzinski responded by registering seven points over his last six games. That includes two of his six multi-point outings this season, which has pushed him to third on the Gophers' scoring list with 26 total points. The Blaine, Minn., native also owns a plus-6 rating during the last three series following a minus-2 stretch the three weeks prior. Brodzinski's 26 points mark the third-consecutive season where he has eclipsed 25 points as he chases his career-best output of 31 points from a year ago.
HUGLEN IN RHYTHM
Aaron Huglen is quietly putting together a run of offensive production where he has seven points over his last 10 games, including a season-best, three-game point streak from Jan. 13-20. The junior has shined in the final game of a weekend, scoring a goal in each of the previous three series finales and four of the past five overall. After not recording a game-winning goal for nearly two years, he has put away the eventual game winner in Minnesota's last two wins against Ohio State (Jan. 20) and Michigan State (Jan. 27).
NATION'S BEST AT AVOIDING THE PENALTY BOX
The Gophers were called for double-digit penalty minutes in three-straight games during the season's first month but has drastically changed that narrative over the last two months. Minnesota now leads the nation, averaging 6.96 penalty minutes per game, sitting in the box for six minutes or less in nine of the previous 10 outings. That includes not allowing a single power-play opportunity during a home win over Robert Morris (Jan. 13) where the team's only penalty came on matching minors. The penalty kill has improved from game one of a series into game two as six of the last seven power-play goals allowed by the Gophers have all come in the series opener, while shutting out opponents in seven of the last eight series finales.
SHOWCASING THE STATE OF HOCKEY
With five of the six members of the Gophers freshman class hailing from the State of Hockey as well as graduate transfer Nick Michel, the 2023-24 roster now features nearly 90 percent homegrown talent. Of the 26 players on the team, 23 grew up and played youth hockey inside the state lines, including all 22 skaters. Even more impressive is the fact that 17 of the Minnesotans on the team are from within 40 miles of campus. In total, 233 student-athletes on NCAA rosters are from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, nearly 100 more than any other state in the country.
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