Gophers Erase 2-0 Deficit, Beat #5 Penn State 3-2
Minneapolis, MN – After going down two goals early, the Gophers got to work, and played a full 60 minute game for perhaps the first time all season.
The Minnesota Gophers (6-8-1 Overall, 3-2-0 B1G) came back to beat the Penn State Nittany Lions (10-5-0, 3-4-0), erasing a two-goal deficit to win by a 3-2 score. A three-goal second period outburst propelled the Maroon & Gold to their fourth win in the last five games.
The “Ice Out” had white towels laid on each and every seat in Mariucci Arena (including those in the press box), but it was mostly white towels at the start of the first. The student section was strong, but the general public was, shall we say, “late arriving”.
The fans that were in attendance at the beginning of the game were treated to some exciting play from the home team. Minnesota made its presence felt right away with a hard o-zone forecheck that pressured the PSU defense and created a handful of turnovers, leading to opportunities for the Gophers. Unfortunately, though, Minnesota was unable to capitalize on eight first-period shots, including several high-danger chances.
Penn State scored twice in the opening frame to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. PSU generally was the less impressive team in the first 20, but they pounced on their limited opportunities. Reese Laubach netted both of the Nittany Lions’ goals, the first coming at 9:31 off a horrible defensive zone turnover. Leo Gruba’s back-pass off the end boards got through John Whipple’s legs and came right to the slot, where Laubach gathered the puck and sniped it past Gopher goalie Nathan Airey.
Laubach potted his second of the period at 13:03 on another innocuous play. A PSU o-zone faceoff win led to a wrist shot from the point, which Laubach tipped in the low slot past Airey.
The Gophers weathered an early Penn State power play, and then stamped their names on the middle stanza. Axel Begley scored his first goal as a Gopher at 3:38 on a long wrister from the point that found its way into the back of the net. Brodie Ziemer’s power play one-timer from the left circle at 8:03 drew Minnesota level at 2-2, and just a few minutes later at 10:08 Mason Moe put it into the net to give the Gophers their first lead of the night at 3-2.
Penn State came out hot in the third trying to pull the game back, but Airey (the first star of the night) was huge, stopping all 8 Nittany Lion shots in the final period. The intensity of the game boiled over at the final horn, when a scrum in front of Airey resulted in some after-the-whistle fisticuffs. LJ Mooney was assessed a game misconduct, but will be available to play for Minnesota in Saturday’s rubber match.
Minnesota and PSU square up again Saturday evening at 7PM.