Gophers women’s hockey’s top line of seniors Abbey Murphy, Ella Huber and junior Josefin Bouveng combined for the game-winning goal to complete the sweep over Boston University (BU) at Ridder Arena on Sunday.
Minnesota took the first game of the season-opening home series on Friday with a late goal from Murphy on a power play. The game was scoreless until Murphy’s third-period strike, and the Gophers won 1-0.
During the second period on Sunday, Bouveng carried the puck into the offensive zone, setting up Murphy for a shot that was blocked in front of the net. Huber pounced on the rebound and scored to give Minnesota a 3-1 lead over BU.
The Gophers’ first line has nine of the team’s 17 goals this season. Last season, they combined for over half of the team’s total goal-scoring.
Huber’s first goal of the season gave the Gophers their first multi-goal lead of the series. Minnesota held onto that lead and swept BU with a 5-2 win.
Murphy drove Minnesota’s offense last season with an NCAA-leading 33 goals, while Huber and Bouveng had 19 and 18 goals, respectively. The three forwards scored 70 of the 135 goals last season.
Neither of the top lines in last year’s national championship game between Wisconsin and Ohio State accounted for more than half of their team’s scoring. Wisconsin’s top line recorded 38% of the team’s goals, while Ohio State’s had 22%.
Gophers head coach Brad Frost said he put the three of them on a line together last season after noticing their chemistry. He said he combined them again this season because of last year’s success.
“They’re all a little different, but they all bring something special to the table,” Frost said.
Huber called Bouveng a playmaker and said she compliments her linemates’ play styles. Bouveng was second in points on the team last year and led the team with 31 assists.
“Her skill is just unmatched,” Huber said. “She makes plays that I’ve just never even seen before.”
While their line came together last season, Murphy and Huber’s chemistry predates their careers as Gophers. The two played youth hockey together for the Chicago Mission when they were teenagers.
“Half the time I don’t even have to look where I’m passing because I know it’s going to end up on her stick,” Huber said.
Having years of experience playing together, Huber praised Murphy’s leadership and goal-scoring abilities. Similarly, Frost said Murphy was a player they can depend on to score big goals in big moments.
On Sunday, Murphy scored on a penalty shot to break the 1-1 tie in the second period. Murphy had three goals in the Gophers’ first series of the season against UConn, including the overtime winner to complete Minnesota’s sweep over the Huskies. Murphy has two of the Gophers’ game-winning goals this season and led the team with seven last season.
Murphy said she did not have a move in mind before taking the penalty shot but decided as she got closer to the goal. She said early in the season is the time to experiment with plays, so she attempted a new move.
The Gophers’ top line returns to Ridder Arena on Oct. 18 with sights on taking down No. 1 Wisconsin.
