The Gophers traveled to the University of Michigan to battle against the Wolverines this weekend in a two game series. Minnesota walked away with a 4-2 win on Thursday. The Gophers could not keep the momentum and fell to Michigan with a 4-2 loss on Friday, leaving the series even.
Following the series loss against Penn State University, head coach Bob Motzko said the Gophers last three games have been the epitome of how the season has gone, with moments of strong play mixed with missed opportunities.
“We’ve got to find a way to make one more play, either defensively or offensively,” Motzko said.
Although the Gophers season has not gone as planned, Motzko said the upperclassmen leadership has been phenomenal.
Senior Brody Lamb said he wants to get back to the game he knows the Gophers can play.
Lamb said the team needs to keep “staying engaged in games and playing a full 60 minutes.”
The Gophers have been dealing with injuries and players switching positions all throughout the season, which has required flexibility from the whole team.
One player, Lamb, has been playing center for a month. Lamb said he did not play center a lot on past teams, but he has adjusted well in his new position.
Despite the losses, the Gophers remain positive and are focused on preparing for tough games ahead.
Sophomore John Whipple said the message in the locker room is believing in themselves and in each other. Whipple said, “we’re ready for it,” when asked about how they will compete with Michigan over this road game series.
Standout Performances
During game one against the Wolverines, junior Luca Di Pasquo, turned aside a remarkable 37 shots. The Michigan native Di Pasquo made a huge impact in game one with a standout performance in the net, keeping the Wolverines top scoring offense limited.
Sophomore Brody Ziemer ended the night with two goals and one assist as the Gophers handed Michigan their third home loss of the season with a final score of 4-2.
Michigan started game two off early, scoring just 1:50 into the first period, but the Gophers fought back. Freshman Javon Moore tied the game at the end of the first period.
Minnesota took command of the second period, making Michigan start to play with urgency. The second period ended 2-2 after a goal by sophomore Beckett Hendrickson, showing that the Gophers could respond under pressure.
However, the Gophers did not have an answer in the third period. Michigan got the go-ahead goal on a broken play with less than seven minutes to play. The Wolverines ended the game with an empty net goal as the series ended with a split.
Looking Forward
As the regular season comes to a close, the Gophers will prepare for the Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament in March. The team is focused on playing consistently and keeping the intensity that let them compete with Michigan.
What’s Next
The Gophers finished their regular season road games. They will close out their regular-season in a battle with No. 1 Michigan State University next week at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Minnesota is looking to finish strong and play their best in the final games of the season.
