Michigan State (4-3-0, 0-1-0-0 Big Ten) at #5 Minnesota (6-3-0, 2-1-0-0 Big Ten)
Date: November 4, 2017Time: 4:00 pm CT - NOTE THE EARLY TIME
Place: 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, MN
TV: Fox Sports North
Stream: BTN2Go/Fox Sports Go
Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM (Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco)
Nate is covering for tonight: Zone Coverage and The Athletic
Last night's recap: Ryan Lindgren, Minnesota D shine in win
Pregame Listening: That Gopher Hockey Puckast Episode 6
Minnesota sophomore defenseman Ryan Lindgren said postgame that he didn't get any extra satisfaction from scoring against the team where he broke his leg this past March.
"I didn't think about it. That was a fluke accident last year. I don't hold a grudge against him or the team at all," he said.
Lindgren broke his leg going into the boards against MSU sophomore forward Taro Hirose, who coincidentally was on the ice for Lindgren's goal. It was his first goal of the season and only second in the Minneapolis native's college career.
In addition, Lindgren has another tie to the Michigan State program. He played for first-year head coach Danton Cole when both were at the USNTDP.
Gophers closing out games
Two big points for Minnesota last night came from the Gophers extending its lead to two goals. Brent Gates Jr. gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead in the closing minute of the second period while Rem Pitlick's goal ended a stretch where the Spartans had multiple opportunities to tie the game.
"I really like the way we've been closing out games. That's been a real strength the last two or three minutes," head coach Don Lucia said. "We've been in a lot of tight games and how we're finishing and not giving up that pulled goalie situation."
If you told me after the opening game that Minnesota would be closing out games with this success, I don't know I would believe it. The Gophers have won six games this season. In all of them the team has held on to what was at one point a one or two goal third period lead.
Over the past couple seasons that hasn't always been the case (as someone who has been covering on a deadline and several last minute rewrites can attest). So far the Gophers have limited the third period collapses. More importantly, the team is gaining that experience early in the season.
"As a group they're growing" Lucia said of the defense. "They have a great coach in Coach Guentzel to work with them. We're seeing a bit more from the offensive side of things without sacrificing on the defensive side."
Pitlick becoming Mr. Friday Night
Rem Pitlick has scored goals three consecutive Friday nights.
"His ability to finish, he has that gift. When (Rem) gets a chance he's going to score more often than not," Lucia said.
Right now that's happening Friday. His latest came off of a play with Casey Mittelstadt where the freshman won a puck battle along the boards and found a wide open Pitlick in the slot. The two have been creating chances for one another.
Line Combinations
The Gophers did not make any changes from Friday's game.
Michigan State's only change is Dylan Pavelek suiting up in favor of Jake Smith. Mitch Eliot, meanwhile, misses his second consecutive game for the Spartans.
University of Minnesota Golden Gophers
ForwardsBrent Gates Jr. (#10) - Tommy Novak (#17) - - Tyler Sheehy (#22)
Rem Pitlick (#15) - Casey Mittelstadt (#21) - Scott Reedy (#19)
Leon Bristedt (#18) - Mike Szmatula (#9) - Brannon McManus (#7)
Ryan Norman (#23) - Darian Romanko (#26) - Jack Ramsey (#16)
Defense
Ryan Lindgren (#5) - Jack Sadek (#2)
Steve Johnson (#4) - Jack Glover (#3)
Ryan Zuhlsdorf (#20) - Tyler Nanne (#29)
Goaltenders
Eric Schierhorn (#37)
Brock Kautz (#1)
Nick Lehr (#34)
Michigan State Spartans
Forwards:Taro Hirose (#17) - Patrick Khodorenko (#55) - Mitchell Lewandowski (#9)
Logan Lambdin (#71) - Sam Saliba (#10) - Cody Milan (#23)
Brennan Sanford (#13) - Tommy Apap (#11) - Austin Kamer (#24)
David Keefer (#19) - Gianluca Esteves (#28) - Dylan Pavelek (#14)
Defense:
Carson Gatt (#18) - Tommy Miller (#12)
Jerad Rosburg (#57) - Butrus Ghafari (#44)
Anthony Scarsella (#4) - Zach Osburn (#2)
Goaltenders:
John Lethemon (#31)
Ed Minney (#45)
Spencer Wright (#41)
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @gopherstate for live coverage. I'm also planning on doing a Facebook Live video following Saturday's game so be on the lookout for that. Send any questions my way.
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