Gophers Shut Out Badgers 4-0

Win Moves MN to Solo 1st Atop the B1G Standings

Madison, WI – It looks like the Gophers picked a good time to start playing good hockey.

Minnesota (12-10-0 Overall, 7-2-0 B1G) extended their winning streak to four games with a 4-0 shutout of the Wisconsin Badgers (4-11-6 Overall, 1-6-2 B1G). The win moved the Gophers to the top of the B1G conference standings, alone in first place with 21 total points.

After successfully killing off an early Badger powerplay, the Gophers struck on their own man advantage in the opening frame. Hudson Fasching stuffed home a rebound shot from the point at 14:12 to give Minnesota the only goal they’d need on the night.

Wisconsin pressured hard in the second period, looking like the team with more jump and more fire, but the Gophers’ Steve Johnson would score on Minnesota’s first shot of the period at 5:58 to extend the lead to 2-0. Johnson joined a Kloos-Reilly two-on-one rush as the trailer and expertly waited out goaltender Matt Jurusik before lifting the puck into the net.

The Badgers kept pressing, but again it was the Gophers that would capitalize on their limited chances to increase the lead. Justin Kloos scored on a shorthanded rush at 12:05, the Gophers’ second goal on just their third shot in the period up to that point.

Wisconsin could not keep up their offensive push into the third, as they only were able to muster four third-period shots on goal. Vinni Lettieri deflected a Leon Bristedt shot into the net at 18:55 to round out the scoring. The Gophers went on to win the game 4-0, with Eric Schierhorn recording the third shutout of his young Gopher career.

Notes:

Fasching’s goal was his team-leading 14th of the season.

Despite a slow start to the year, Justin Kloos now has eight goals to his credit on the season

Minnesota was outshot 29-25 on the game