The Minnesota Gophers started a new series at home tonight after sweeping the Penn State Nittany Lions last week. They have the Ohio State Buckeyes coming in to Mariucci as Big Ten Hockey continues this strange season.
It is likely the first time a college hockey team has played 4 games in less than 7 days as the Gophers played last Thursday night and Friday afternoon before taking the weekend off (other than practice & prep) before facing Ohio State tonight and tomorrow night so it’s actually 4 games in 6 days.
Ohio State played in Wisconsin last week so it’s a little rougher on them compared to the Gophers being able to sleep in their own beds and only having to travel to and from the rink. How much of a factor will that be tonight?
Here’s how they Lined Up:
Minnesota Men’s Hockey won 4-1 last night and will look to win tonight to stay undefeated! Last night, it was a decisive 4-1 victory over Ohio State.
Freshman D Brock Faber got the scoring going when he took a cross-ice pass from D Ryan Johnson and went upper right for the first goal of the game and the first goal of his NCAA Hockey career!
If you need us, we’ll be watching @Brockfaber14‘s first collegiate snipe on repeat. @LAKings zoom viewing party? pic.twitter.com/ZZz1qoR9bb
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) November 24, 2020
The Gophers then scored with just over a minute left in the 1st period when the Buckeyes got a little too aggressive on a line rush when a defenseman joined the rush to make it a 4-on-2 but they were all lined up across the ice and not one pass was made and Brock Faber broke up the play to start an odd-man rush the other way starting with Blake McLaughlin who forwarded the puck to Brannon McManus then went for a change and Sampo Ranta came flying onto the ice. McManus carried the puck into the left side of the zone then cut to the middle & dropped the puck to Ranta who shoots and it deflects off the defenseman and right to Sammy Walker for an easy empty-net goal as the goalie didn’t expect that deflection. 2-0 after 1 period.
You know what we say, good defense becomes goals.
Are we the only ones that say that??? pic.twitter.com/jVOLsBtOke
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) November 24, 2020
Ohio State then got the game within 1 goal on a goal just before the 7-minute mark of the 2nd period when a turnover in the neutral zone on a good play by D Ryan O’Connell to step up and poke check the puck away for F Gustaf Westlund to chip it past Gopher D Ryan Johnson then get a free shot from the right side and he went 5-hole for his 1st goal of the season.
Ryan O’Connell with the steal, Gustaf Westlund with the finish for the Buckeyes’ first goal of the season.#GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/tXrV1OV7hd
— Ohio State Men’s Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) November 24, 2020
The Minnesota Gophers responded about 3 minutes later to get their 2-goal lead back on a Power Play when F Bryce Brodzinski got his stick on a Mike Koster point shot for his 1st goal of the season & Koster’s 1st assist & point of his college career.
From the point to the back of the net, welcome to the score sheet Koster. pic.twitter.com/dw0YluxqkW
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) November 24, 2020
The Gophers then sealed the win with a Ben Meyers short-handed empty-net goal that he scored from inside his own blue line.
𝕊𝔼ℕ𝔻 𝕀𝕋 ! pic.twitter.com/oXmfb3UVFj
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) November 24, 2020
Your Gopher Stars of the Game!
Same time (7:30pm), same channel (Big Ten Network) tonight for Game 2!!!
