Gophers Thrash Wolverines 6-0 Friday Night

Minneapolis, MN – Because Minnesota’s non-conference schedule was uncharacteristically light this season, the Gophers’ gaudy record was a bit suspect. How would Minnesota fare against a quality opponent?

Their first chance came Friday night against the #6-ranked Michigan Wolverines, and it was a test that the #3 Gophers passed with flying colors.

Behind a relentless offensive attack (along with some pucks that actually went in the net instead of missing it), the Minnesota Gophers (14-2-1 Overall (1-1 OT), 6-0-1-0 B1G) destroyed the Michigan Wolverines (10-4-1 (2-0), 3-1-1-0) by a 6-0 score. Nathan Airey made 32 saves in the winning effort, improving his record to 9-0-1 on the season and recording his first shutout as a Gopher.

Despite an impressive first 10 minutes of play, Minnesota cold not solve Michigan goalie Logan Stein until the 12:31 mark of the first, when Matthew Wood picked up an Oliver Moore rebound and roofed it for his 5th goal of the season.

From there, the goals came fast and furious. Jimmy Snuggerud scored his 8th of the season just 55 seconds later to make it 2-0 Minnesota, and Aaron Huglen added his fourth of the year at 16:10 to make it 3-0 going into the first intermission.

Matthew Wood extinguished any hope of a Michigan comeback just 48 seconds into the middle frame with his second goal of the night off a beauty of a pass by Ollie Moore. The Gophers added two more second period goals by August Falloon and Connor Kurth to expand the lead to a commanding 6-0 score.

After the sixth Gopher goal, things got a bit feisty. A Wolverine player hit Aaron Huglen up high on a funny play, but no penalty was called. Ryan Chesley, always one to defend his teammates, cross-checked the Michigan player who hit Huglen and took a penalty of his own. Just a few minutes later, Chesley again hit another Wolverine forward with a high elbow and saw his night come to an end early.

Nathan Airey was as sharp as he’s ever been in this one, not letting the score dictate a lapse in concentration, and kept Michigan off the board throughout the extended power play time late in the second and early in the third.

The third period itself felt like marking time, as Minnesota gave Michigan a healthy dose of their fourth line of Nick Michel, John Mittelstadt, and August Falloon.

By the time the clock hit 0:00, it was an emphatic 6-0 win for the Maroon and Gold.

The two teams battle it out again tomorrow night in a “White Out” game for the Gophers. Wear your white if you’re coming to the 5PM puck drop Saturday.