Gophers Make Major Statement With Shutout Sweep Against Michigan

Minneapolis, MN – Friday night, Sam Rinzel blocked a big shot in the final minute of play to keep Nathan Airey’s first career shutout alive.

Saturday night, Rinzel’s stick secured the victory.

Behind a first period Sam Rinzel goal and 22 saves from Liam Souliere, the #4 Minnesota Gophers (15-2-1 Overall (1-1 OT), 7-0-1-0 B1G) shut out the #6 Michigan Wolverines 2-0 Saturday night, backing up their emphatic 6-0 Friday win to secure a rare shutout sweep, Minnesota’s first over Michigan since 1943.

If you watch enough college hockey, you know that the team that loses Friday night often comes out hot on Saturday – it’s one of the reasons why sweeping is so difficult. Michigan certainly came out blazing Saturday evening, building a sizeable shot advantage in the first half of the opening period. Minnesota was able to weather the storm, though, and got their chance to turn the tables on the Wolverines when Michigan finally started gooning it up (as they are wont to do).

Ethan Edwards hit Nick Michel in the head at 12:54 and received an elbowing minor, and on the ensuing Gopher powerplay on a scrum in the crease Brody Lamb was cross-checked repeatedly by Jackson Hallum, while Tyler Duke punched Oliver Moore in the face. Duke received 5 and a game after Minnesota challenged, while Hallum (and Lamb somehow?) received matching minors.

The penalty barrage resulted in a five-on-three for Minnesota, and while the Gophers could not beat Michigan goalie Cameron Korpi on the two-man advantage, they were able to score on the major powerplay.

After holding the puck in the zone for what seemed like two minutes on the powerplay, Minnesota’s Sam Rinzel caught Korpi trying to look around the screen in front of him. Rinzel’s quick thinking (and quicker shot) snuck past Korpi and into the net, giving Minnesota the only goal it would need at 16:41 of the period.

At the time of the elbowing penalty on Edwards, Michigan had amassed 11 shots on goal through the first 12:54 of play. We’ve seen this Minnesota team lock down on defense, and in the remaining 47:06 of the game, the Gophers only allowed 11 more Wolverine shots on goal while piling on 34 of their own.

Minnesota gave Michigan a powerplay opportunity late in the second on what could have been a five-minute major on John Whipple (was reviewed and declared a minor penalty), but the penalty kill was stout, led by Luke Mittelstadt, who coach Bob Motzko called one of the best defensemen in college hockey after the game. Mittelstadt made several key blocks and clears to keep Michigan at bay on the man advantage.

The game was tense and exciting, an up-and-down affair between two teams that each have more skill than they do respect for one another. Minnesota kept Michigan’s high-powered offense (which earlier this year put up 16 goals in a weekend against Penn State) at bay, steering the Wolverines to the outside and away from the high-danger areas. Michigan really only had one good chance in the third period, coming with just about 2:30 left in the game, and Liam Souliere was sharp, lunging across the crease to his left to glove a dangerous shot away into the corner.

Things got chippy again very late in the third. With just 11 seconds left in the game, Jimmy Snuggerud hit the empty net from 150 feet away, but on the play Michigan’s Evan Werner checked Snuggerud awkwardly into the boards and then went after him again with a cross-check while Snuggerud was down. The ensuing scrum was a lot of jawing between the players but luckily not much more in the way of fisticuffs. Werner got assessed 5 and a game after review by the referees, the Gophers won it 2-0, and the celebration was on.

As has been the story of the season, Minnesota was once again bit by the injury bug. Just one day after Aaron Huglen suffered what looked like a concussion after a high hit, the Gophers lost Cal Thomas and August Falloon in the second period, with both looking to have suffered knee injuries. Coach Motzko didn’t say much after the game, but the impression this writer got was that both injuries were more than the day-to-day variety.

Minnesota is now down four forwards (Erik Pahlsson, Aaron Huglen, Mason Nevers, and August Falloon) and one defenseman (Thomas), with Matthew Wood leaving the team next week for Canada’s Major Junior Camp. The Gophers will go into next weekend’s home series against current #1 Michigan State with 17 available skaters on their roster, assuming none of the aforementioned players are available (and that none of the backup goalies suit up as a forward). Teams can now dress 19 total skaters in a game, so the Gophers will likely be two men short. Expect a tired forward group next weekend versus the Spartans.

Michigan State comes to town currently ranked #1 in the country, but they will almost certainly drop down a spot or two after a loss and OT win against Wisconsin this weekend. Expect Minnesota to move up to #1 or #2 following their emphatic weekend result over the Wolverines. Either way, it will be a battle of two top-four teams, with the Gophers having to rely on their depth to get the job done.

Minnesota is now 2nd nationally at 4.1 goals per game and 5th nationally on defense, giving up just 1.8 goals per game. The Gophers are a massive +42 on goal differential through 18 games. It is worth mentioning that this Minnesota team has only lost one game in regulation play all season, the 3-1 loss up in Bemidji.

The Gophers are the first team to 15 wins on the season, with only Denver (13), Providence (12), and Michigan State (12) anywhere close.