Exhausted Gophers Give Up Lead Late, Lose to State

Minneapolis, MN – Just one night ago, 9 Gopher forwards battled #3 ranked Michigan State to a hard-fought draw, coming back in the third period to do so.

Saturday, all that hard work finally caught up to them.

After building a 3-1 lead into the middle of the third period, the wheels fell off for the Minnesota Golden Gophers (15-3-2 Overall (1-1 OT), 7-1-1-1 B1G) as the Michigan State Spartans (13-2-1 (2-0), 5-1-2-0) came back in the final 10 minutes of the 3rd, scoring four goals to take Saturday’s finale by a 5-3 score.

The two teams played the first period to a scoreless draw, with Minnesota again failing to score on a power play chance.

MSU got a power play in the second period on a (bogus) Sam Rinzel holding penalty, and they capitalized, with a wicked one-timed shot by Isaac Howard from the right-wing circle to give the Spartans the 1-0 lead.

Minnesota bounced back from the early Spartan tally, with goals by Brodie Ziemer and Aaron Huglen to put the Gophers up 2-1 heading into the third.

The Maroon & Gold (wearing their maroon jerseys on a home Saturday game) looked to have sealed the deal in the third when Brody Lamb scored on the power play to put Minnesota up 3-1, but at about the midway point of the period the momentum of the game started to shift. Gopher players were content going up and out off the glass rather than possessing the puck out of the zone and going on offense, and MSU slowly started ratcheting up the pressure. In the span of 3 minutes, MSU capitalized on Gopher turnovers and general lack of play to put 3 goals past goalie Liam Souliere. Just like that, it was a 4-3 Spartan lead.

Minnesota tried to come back, putting on some pressure of their own, but MSU scored on the Minnesota empty net to close the door on a 5-3 victory.

The Gophers just didn’t have it in the tank Saturday night, and MSU was a good enough team to make them pay.

The team will try to let the lesson sink in over the Holiday break, a well-earned (and well-needed) break for the Gophers. Minnesota is looking to heal up key contributors Erik Pahlsson, Mason Nevers, August Falloon, and Cal Thomas, along with a host of bumps and bruises to the players that have been able to stay in the lineup.

We’ll next see the Gophers in early January, as they take on the Mercyhurst Lakers in non-conference action.