Game Story: Minnesota loses game, series & home ice to Penn State (Zone Coverage)

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA- Losing a shootout last Saturday turned out to be the difference for Minnesota.

Or it could possibly be a blown 3-0 lead to Michigan in November that resulted in a loss in overtime.

The 4-0 lead the next night which resulted in two points rather than three comes to mind. Maybe Wisconsin or Ohio State finding a way to win tied games in the third period did it. Maybe being shut out at Notre Dame despite 44 shots on Cale Morris.

Then there’s this weekend. After 24 Big Ten league games, Minnesota fell one point short of home ice.

“It’s tough. It’s not the weekend that we wanted,” Gopher junior forward Brent Gates Jr. said.

Needing a single point on the road in either of the two games against Penn State, the Gophers got swept at Pegula Arena for the first time in program history. Despite a better start Saturday a night after handily losing 5-1, Minnesota could not find a way early past Peyton Jones.

The Nittany Lions scored twice in the opening 10:48 to go on and win the regular season finale 5-2. Celebrating with streamers from the student section, PSU finishes with 34 points compared to 33 for the Gophers.

“We didn’t play as we needed to yesterday, as the shots and score showed. You can’t leave the second game to chance,” said Mike Szmatula.

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Border Battle series kicks off Minnesota's stretch run

Returning to the ice fully charged from an idle week, Minnesota junior forward Tommy Novak has a goal in mind. Three series remain in the Big Ten regular season beginning with this weekend's Border Battle in Madison Friday and Saturday against the Wisconsin Badgers.

Novak would like to be home at the end of it.

"To be at Mariucci for the Big Ten playoffs would be huge. Our seniors don't only want to play two more games here at Mariucci so that would be the biggest goal, getting home ice for the Big Ten playoffs," he said.

The top four teams host games in the new conference tournament format. First place gets a bye to the semifinals while second through fourth host a best-of-three quarterfinal series.

To get home ice in the quarterfinals would likely be enough for Minnesota (16-13-1, 7-10-1-1 Big Ten) to clinch an at-large berth in the 16 team NCAA Tournament. The Gophers are currently ninth in the Pairwise thanks in part to a 9-3-0 non-conference record and five wins over the eight teams ahead.

Podcast: That Gopher Hockey Puckcast Episode 11

On That Gopher Hockey Puckcast episode 11, we get through all our subjects like a perfectly timed hip check.

In the first of TWO episodes this week, Drew, Nate and producer Tom Schreier have to decide who would be the captain, skilled player and goon among the group. They then discuss fighting in junior hockey and give their picks for a way too early 2018 Frozen Four.

Minnesota's series split with Wisconsin gets touched upon as well as Mike Szmatula's 100th career point. The Gophers' win Friday and loss Saturday bring up several topics such as, "what to make of an offense that is putting up the shots but not the goals," "is Minnesota's defense a bright spot," "can you get numb to Casey Mittelstadt highlight-reel assists" and much more.

Plus: Young Drew says something that makes Nate feel really old.

Those modern day goons can directly download here.



As a reminder, if you subscribed to our old podcast, that feed will no longer work. You need to subscribe to the 'Cast In Gold feed wherever you listen to podcasts. Here it is on iTunes. While you're at it, please leave a review and give us five stars. It helps out the podcast.

Plugs and stuff

-Drew can be found on Twitter @covedrew and covers Minnesota men's hockey and football for the Minnesota Daily.

-Nate can be found here on this website and at The Athletic (as well as every other website if the various links here don't make clear). You can follow him on Twitter @gopherstate and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Here's the USA-Canada Olympic feature for The Athletic he discusses in the episode.

-Brad Schlossman's article on how there's little separation in college hockey this season.

-The aforementioned Tyler Nanne's hip check:

#Gophers Tyler Nanne has been dropping hip checks this season, bonus points for an open ice on. pic.twitter.com/3r9jdO6rjx

— Eric Vegoe (@evegoe) December 3, 2017

Game Story: Gopher Pair Hit Milestones in Win Over Badgers (Zone Coverage)

MINNEAPOLIS- Against a rival, every point helps.

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.

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Feature: Gopher hockey runs into hot goalie and a great team in South Bend (The Athletic)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Solving Cale Morris and Notre Dame’s defense is easier said than done.

For most of its weekend series against the fourth-ranked Irish, Minnesota’s offense happily executed its game plan, sustaining pressure in the offensive end while the entire lineup put shots on goal.

Morris and company were up to the challenge, however, in a battle between the Big Ten’s best at Compton Family Ice Arena. He stopped 84 of 86 shots, not allowing an even-strength goal on the weekend, as then-No. 6 Minnesota lost 1-0 Friday and 5-2 Saturday, the difference between good and great on full display.

“It’s frustrating because we did some good things, and I’d say five of our six periods were pretty good,” Gophers head coach Don Lucia told The Athletic following Saturday’s defeat. “(Notre Dame)’s a good team. We didn’t do enough to give ourselves a chance to win.”

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Game Story: Mike Szmatula's 2 goals not enough for Minnesota to avoid a Notre Dame sweep (Zone Coverage)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Gophers will have to play catch-up in Big Ten conference play.

Winners of the past four conference regular season titles, Minnesota finds itself seven points behind first-year member Notre Dame with two more games played. (Big Ten games are worth three points apiece.) The latest comes after the first-place Fighting Irish (12-3-1, 6-0-0-0 Big Ten) swept the Gophers this weekend, most recently defeating Minnesota 5-2 Saturday at Compton Family Ice Arena.

Minnesota (9-6-1, 3-4-1-1 Big Ten) was within one goal for much of the game. Trailing from Notre Dame’s opening shot, the Fighting Irish were able to hold off the Gophers and put the game away in the final ten-plus minutes.

“We took some penalties in the third. We just didn’t have much pushback in the third,” said Minnesota head coach Don Lucia. “When they got the fourth one, it’s tough to come back. One, when it’s a one-shot game, you’re in it. We got a little too impatient and did some things we hadn’t been doing.”

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Game Story: Gopher Seniors Score First Goals as Minnesota Gets First Season Sweep (Zone Coverage)

First Battle Hymn and stick salute of the year. #Gophers #PrideOnIce pic.twitter.com/GEcybdYtx5

— Nate Wells (@gopherstate) October 29, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS- October closes with a sweep.

Beginning the season with three weekends where No. 7 Minnesota won one game and lost one, the Gophers found some consistency this weekend against No. 9 Clarkson. For the first time this year, the team won twice in a weekend.

Seniors Leon Bristedt and Mike Szmatula each scored a power-play goal Saturday to help lead Minnesota to a 2-1 win over the Golden Knights.

“Early on we were struggling trying to find our identity. I think the older guys kind of put that on ourselves,” Szmatula said. “We know we’re going to go through some tough times and it’s just about you keep getting back up when you get knocked down.”

No players felt more comfortable Saturday night than Szmatula and Bristedt — and for good reason. Both had yet to score a goal this season entering the game.

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BLOG: How to get your offseason hockey fix & watch Gophers all at once

Friday and Saturday marked the midpoint of Minnesota's offseason. Each passing day brings us closer to the start of a new year, so it should be no surprise that mid-July features players ramping up in preparation.

In addition to ongoing NHL development camps, several University of Minnesota players are spending their July and August participating in Da Beauty League. Featuring Twin Cities-based NHLers, minor leaguers and collegians playing 4x4 hockey at Braemar Arena in Edina, the league's second season begins today (July 12, 2017) and runs through August. For three games a night (5:10 pm, 6:35 pm, 8:00 pm) at $10 it's a decent value.

BLOG: Chicago wins USHL Clark Cup, Penticton falls in RBC Cup to cap 2016-17 commit season

Thanks to the one who gives me the opportunity to do what I love. Couldn't have done this without you and dad❤️ CLARK CUP CHAMPS. pic.twitter.com/HQ6PWiCEIg

— Brannon McManus (@Bmcmanus7) May 24, 2017

The last of Minnesota's commits had his season end Tuesday.

(There remain a few in the pros. Phil Kessel and Pittsburgh play Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight. Former Gopher defensemen Michael Brodzinski and Ben Marshall's AHL teams are in their league semis although both players only appeared in a handful of playoff games.)

Brannon McManus became Tuesday the first person committed to Minnesota to hoist the USHL Clark Cup since Nico Sacchetti in 2008 when Chicago defeated Sioux City 2-1 in overtime of winner-take-all Game 5.

A few days earlier Penticton, with Gopher commits Mat Robson (goalie) and Sam Rossini (defense), ended its season two wins short of taking home the RBC Cup, the highest prize in Canadian Junior A. The BCHL league champions lost 3-1 Saturday to eventual RBC Cup winner Cobourg.

Tyler Sheehy named 2017-18 Gopher Hockey Captain

(Author's note: Been extremely busy of late so I'm doing some catching up on news that happened last week/early this week. Thanks all for being patient and understanding.)

First team All-American forward Tyler Sheehy can add University of Minnesota team captain to his growing list of honors.

Needing to replace its entire leadership core for the third time in six seasons, Minnesota announced Monday (April 24, 2017) that Sheehy would be the next player to wear a "C" for the Gopher men's hockey team.

What's Next? A Look At The 2017-18 Minnesota Men's Hockey Roster (Part 1)

Casey Mittelstadt makes it looks effortless #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/qdXeQ5dmLf

— USHL (@USHL) March 26, 2017

The movie never ends. The soap opera is told and unfolds. But the beat goes on, and so do we.

Tickets remain to be punched (or, since it's 2017, they are more likely to be scanned off of a smartphone) for this year's Frozen Four. With Minnesota's season over following yesterday's 3-2 upset loss to Notre Dame, attention turns away from the Northeast Regional and Chicago.

Instead, let's take a look to the 2017-18 season, which begins (and could end) in the Twin Cities. Minnesota sees plenty of turnover. A large senior class departs for the pros and real life. In their place, head coach Don Lucia brings in his best recruiting class on paper since 2010-11.

Gopher players share memories from Joe Louis Arena

Jack Ramsey (16) earlier this month (Photo: Daniel Mick)

Before the wrecking ball swings later this year towards the walls of Joe Louis Arena, Jack Ramsey skated once again on the same ice sheet his father once called home.

Years later the Minnesota sophomore forward was much bigger and more aware of his surroundings. It’s bound to happen when your first time, as it was for Ramsey, came as a small child unable to stand on his two feet.

“It was cool,” he said about the experience last weekend. “Just to get out there and walk on the bench before the game, and look at all the banners out there and history, see all the names written on the walls. It was incredible to play on the same ice as all the guys that came before me.

“It made me think a lot. It made me think about my dad too so it was pretty special.”

BLOG: Penn State may be without leading scorer Andrew Sturtz against Gophers + More

Like Minnesota, Penn State may be without one of its top players Friday night in Detroit when the Nittany Lions face the Gophers in a Big Ten semifinal.

PSU leading goal scorer Andrew Sturtz left in the first period of Thursday’s 4-1 win over Michigan. He did not return following a collision with Wolverines forward Alex Kile and Penn State used 11 forwards the rest of the night.

“That’s above my pay grade. I’m going to find out later on,” head coach Guy Gadowsky responded when asked about Sturtz’s status for Friday.

Sturtz has 21 goals in 33 games this season, including one against Minnesota in the four games between the two teams.

Pregame Blog: Minnesota's chance to make history + Gophers-MSU Line Combinations

Friday's Game Info

Michigan State at #5 Minnesota

Date: March 10, 2017
Time: 6:30 pm CT (7:30 pm ET)
Place: Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, MN
TV: ESPNEWS (Kevin Brown and Sean Ritchlin)
Stream: Watch ESPN (Free for cable subscribers)
Radio: 1500 ESPN (Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco)
Nate is covering for tonight: St. Paul Pioneer Press

The Gophers can make history this weekend with any combination of four points won by Minnesota or lost by Wisconsin.

By doing that - and for those scoreboard watching the Badgers' game against Ohio State tonight starts half an hour later - Minnesota will win its fourth straight Big Ten regular season title and sixth overall dating back to 2011-12 in the WCHA. (The Gophers shared the 2012-13 title with St. Cloud State.) No team has ever won six straight conference regular season titles.

Regardless of your thoughts on the Big Ten and Minnesota playing in a six-team conference, winning one, let alone six straight regular season titles, is an impressive feat.

It's hard to be consistent in college hockey.

Puck Dynasty Podcast: Gophers go for fourth straight Big Ten title (Episode 17)

Puck Dynasty is a weekly podcast covering the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team and college hockey. Nathan Wells (SB Nation College Hockey/various outlets), Declan Goff (1500 ESPN/GoMN Sports) and Drew Cove (Minnesota Daily) discuss the latest news, analysis and give their opinions about the Gophers and sport as a whole.

This week the crew open with Twitter questions on unsung players and those a season away. Last weekend’s Minnesota-Michigan series gets discussed from the perspective of live in Ann Arbor (Nate), TV (Drew) and radio (Declan) followed by a preview of this weekend’s Michigan State series where the Gophers will try to clinch a fourth straight Big Ten title in the final weekend of the regular season. PLUS: The podcast turns its attention to the Minnesota State Boy’s HS Hockey Tournament, the NCAA Tournament bubble and Rem Pitlick’s confidence shooting the puck.

Towards the end Drew shocks Declan and Nate by burying the lede with the best jersey he owns.

Those stumbling across Mike Yeo and Thomas Vanek meeting in an East Metro Champps can directly download at 1500 ESPN, Podcast One or subscribe on iTunes.

Follow Nate (@gopherstate), Declan (@dexstweets) and Drew (@drewcove48) on Twitter. If you like what you hear, be sure to give it a five star review on whatever platform you consume podcasts.

Pregame Blog: Minnesota-Michigan Friday Line Combinations, Game Times, TV, Radio & More

Friday's Game Info

#5 Minnesota at Michigan

Date: March 3, 2017
Time: 5:30 pm CT (6:30 pm ET)
Place: Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, MI
TV: ESPNEWS (John Buccigross and Sean Ritchlin)
Stream: Watch ESPN (Free for cable subscribers)
Radio: 1500 ESPN (Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco)
Nate is covering for tonight: Minneapolis Star Tribune


Greetings from Yost Ice Arena where I always enjoy getting welcomed by one of the old Charlie Brown statues which went up in St. Paul.

It's an early start this week with Friday's game between the Gophers and Wolverines getting the ESPNews treatment.

BLOG: Mike Szmatula out for the weekend

Mike Szmatula will be out for the second straight weekend.

Szmatula was ruled out of this weekend's series against Michigan by head coach Don Lucia during Wednesday's media availability.

The team travels to Ann Arbor tomorrow and can only bring 23 skaters, necessitating the quick decision. Szmatula suffered a lower body injury 3 minutes into Minnesota's 6-3 win against Penn State on February 17th.

Although he needed to be helped off the ice, Lucia initially believed Szmatula would not miss an extended period of time and would be back last weekend.

Szmatula currently has 25 points (10G-15A) in 26 games for the Gophers. Unfortunately missing a chance to play at Yost Arena means the Commerce Township, Michigan native will have been injured for both Michigan road series this season.

Everyone else, besides Tommy Novak (out for the season after suffering an injury when the Gophers hosted Michigan in mid-January), is healthy enough to play. Being without both means Ryan Norman likely gets another opportunity to play at center.

As far as the Wolverines go, top freshman forward Will Lockwood missed both games against Ohio State last weekend, but is practicing this week. Michigan also got a bit of good news with senior Alex Kile returning for the first time in a month, however.

Pregame Blog: On Friday's loss, Saturday game times & more Minnesota-Wisconsin notes

Saturday game info:

#19 Wisconsin at #4 Minnesota

Date: February 24, 2017
Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Place: Mariucci Arena
TV: Fox Sports North Plus (Fox Sports Wisconsin for our friends in Madison)
Stream: BTN2Go/Fox Sports Go (Free for cable subscribers)
Radio: 1500 ESPN
Nate is covering for tonight: St. Paul Pioneer Press

Pregame Blog: Minnesota-Wisconsin preview, line combinations, TV & radio + more

Friday's Game Info

#19 Wisconsin at #4 Minnesota

Date: February 24, 2017
Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Place: Mariucci Arena
TV: Fox Sports North Plus (Fox Sports Wisconsin for our friends in Madison)
Stream: BTN2Go/Fox Sports Go (Free for cable subscribers)
Radio: 1500 ESPN
Nate is covering for tonight: St. Paul Pioneer Press

BLOG: Mike Szmatula's status, roller coaster comebacks returning, Wisconsin turnaround & stakes

Some Friday morning leftovers prior to this weekend's Border Battle:

Redshirt junior forward Mike Szmatula remains day-to-day for this weekend's series against the Badgers with a lower body injury.

"He's a question mark right now. We don't know if he'll play or not play," said head coach Don Lucia. "We'll see where he is (Thursday and Friday).