Whether it’s the first career point, 100th or anything in between, Minnesota had enough to take the opening game Friday.
The Gophers used a four-goal second to erase a 2-1 deficit against Wisconsin in a 5-4 win. Minnesota held on late, killing a third-period penalty in the final five minutes of regulation. The visiting Badgers threatened again by having an extra attacker over the final two minutes with goaltender Jack Berry pulled, but were unable to find the tying goal.
Five different players scored for the Gophers (10-6-1, 4-4-1-1 Big Ten) to snap a two-game losing streak.
“We have tremendous scoring depth on our team. To have five different scorers is definitely a good sign. I think everyone was rolling, said Scott Reedy after a three-point (1G-2A) night. “We need to keep that going.”
A pair of Gopher players had their share of milestones Friday night. Redshirt senior Mike Szmatula reached 100 points in his college career on a first period goal. 68 came while he was Northeastern while the next 32 are with the Gophers.
Sophomore Joey Marooney, playing for the first time since Oct. 20 against North Dakota, assisted on Tyler Sheehy’s second goal for his first career point.
