Pregame Blog: Why Joey Marooney is in tonight against Penn State + Minnesota Line Combinations

Friday's Game Info:

#6/4 Penn State at #7 Minnesota

Date: February 3, 2017
Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Place: Mariucci Arena
TV: Fox Sports North Plus
Stream: BTN2Go (Free for cable subscribers)
Radio: 1500 ESPN
Nate is covering for tonight: SB Nation College Hockey

Not everything is set in Minnesota's forward lineup as the Gophers hit the stretch run of Big Ten conference play.

"There's some spots to be had right now and that's what we have to try and find out over the next month," said head coach Don Lucia.

Pregame Blog: Minnesota-Bemidji State Line Combinations

Once again Minnesota plays at 4 p.m. on the second day of the North Star College Cup.

It's the third straight year the Gophers will contend for the consolation championship at Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota got two goals by Brent Gates Jr., but fell to #1/#2 Minnesota Duluth 3-2 and now face Bemidji State. UMD will play St. Cloud State for the championship at 7.

Weirdly only Minnesota's game is televised on Fox Sports North. The championship will not be, which in a way is fitting for the way the tournament is ending.

If you missed last night's game my recap focusing on the little mistakes and glass half full attitude Minnesota had following the loss can be read here by clicking on the ridiculously long hyperlink.

From watching the early game I thought the WCHA-leading Beavers out-played SCSU for much of the last 40 minutes. Jeff Smith made a couple timely saves and Bemidji State hit a post in the second period that would have changed course.

It's not an easy game in the final North Star College Cup. As Minnesota knows, there's a difference leaving the tournament without a win, having done so each of the past two seasons with second-day letdowns.

Will this year be different?

University of Minnesota Golden Gophers lines

Forwards
Rem Pitlick (#15) - Justin Kloos (#25) - Tyler Sheehy (#22)
Leon Bristedt (#18)- Vinni Lettieri (#19) - Taylor Cammarata (#13)
Brent Gates Jr. (#10) - Mike Szmatula (#9) - Luke Notermann (#11)
Ryan Norman (#23) - Darian Romanko (#26) - Jack Ramsey (#16)

Defense
Jake Bischoff (#28) - Ryan Lindgren (#5)
Steve Johnson (#4) - Jack Sadek (#2)
Ryan Zuhsldorf (#20) - Ryan Collins (#6)

Goaltenders
Eric Schierhorn (#37)
Nick Lehr (#34)
Brock Kautz (#1)

Minnesota's only change from Friday's lineup is Luke Notermann returning in place of Connor Reilly.

Bemidji State University lines:

Today's lineup vs the Gophers. 4pm puck drop at the Excel Energy Center #northstarcollegecup pic.twitter.com/h47ITD7tfC

— Bemidji St. MHockey (@BSUBeaversMHKY) January 28, 2017

Once again I'm covering for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Pick up a copy and read my coverage to support if you can.

Preview: Minnesota-UMD game Friday on Fox Sports North

Minnesota heads north to Duluth for a two game WCHA series between two of the top four teams in the nation. Both games at AMSOIL Arena Friday and Saturday begin at 3 pm locally.

Friday afternoon's game will be televised locally on Fox Sports North. You can also stream it on Fox Sports Go.

The #2 Gophers (16-3-2, 12-2-2-2 WCHA) swept UMD when the two teams played in October in part thanks to Sarah Potomak. The sophomore forward scored the game-winning goal both games with the second coming in overtime.

#4 Minnesota Duluth (13-4-3, 10-4-2-1 WCHA), in the second year under head coach Maura Crowell, returned to its spot at the top of the conference. No team has swept the Bulldogs in Duluth this season. Players have developed and depth has accumulated, making it more difficult for opposing teams to target a line or two.

At the same time, senior forward Lara Stalder (#21) has been one of the top players in the WCHA. Her 27 points (9G-18A) are fourth in the conference. Not too far behind her are linemates Ashleigh Brykaliuk with 24 points and Katherine McGovern with 20.

The trio face a Gopher team that has given up 18 goals in its last 4 games.

In net, sophomore Maddie Rooney holds a .940 save percentage. When the two teams played in October, Rooney stopped 74 of 81 shots.

Minnesota, meanwhile, will have back Dani Cameranesi in its lineup for the first time since early December. The senior forward leads the nation in goals per game (1.06). Her return reunites the top line in the nation between her, Potomak and national scoring leader Kelly Pannek.

Potomak and freshman Lindsay Agnew also return from national team duty. Both missed the Gophers' exhibition win over the Minnesota Whitecaps post-collegiate team and non-conference United States Hall of Fame Game against Minnesota State last weekend playing for Team Canada in the Nations Cup.

University of Minnesota lineup (via @GopherWHockey) :

⏰ 30 minutes til puck drop. Here's a look at the #GWH lineup for today's game vs. UMD. pic.twitter.com/3kfFVPTZ3V

— Minnesota W Hockey (@GopherWHockey) January 13, 2017

Scouting Michigan: Opponent Preview, TV Schedule, Game Times and More

Game Times: Friday (January 13, 2017) at 8 pm CT; Saturday (January 14, 2017) at 7 pm CT. 

Location: Mariucci Arena, Minneapolis, MN

TV: Friday on BTN; Saturday on FSN+

Radio: 1500 ESPN both nights

Michigan (8-9-1, 1-3-0-0 Big Ten), like Minnesota (11-5-2, 3-1-0-0 Big Ten), has spent much of the last month idle. Both teams played a tournament on New Year’s Eve (Mariucci Classic for MN, Great Lakes Invitational for MI) before being off once again last weekend.

That’s where the similarities end.