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.
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