Re: Michigan State @ Minnesota: 10/12 - 10/13
The Gophers TOTALLY DOMINATED pumping in 12 goals for the weekend with nearly every Gopher player getting at least a point for a 7-1 shellacking over a shell shocked, deflated young Sparty team. Many expected more aggressive play from Sparty after the lopsided 5-1 loss Friday night, but MSU completely unraveled within the first 5 minutes of the game as the Gophers took an early 4-0 lead in the 1st and never looked back. Gopher passing thus far this season has been textbook as they put on another cycling/puck control and defensive clinic, outshooting Sparty 34-11. Wilcox was tested early on a turnover in the first and made a big save, and showed some of his quickness and puck handling skills around the net throughout the game (Grade: A). Although not severely tested this weekend THE BIG SHIBROWSKI and Wilcox looked very good and played the puck well.
Haula, Bjugs, and Marshall all tallied 2 goals for the series, Rau finally got his first, Skjei got his first career goal as a Gopher on a hard slap from the point on the PP and lots of Gopher players with multiple points this weekend. Lots of crazy stats for the Gophs tonight: All 4 lines scored, only 3 Gophers without pts., no one < +2, more than 90% of Gopher shots were Grade A chances, lots of backchecking, shot blocking and takeaways. Overall a WOW experience for Gopher fans this weekend and a complete team effort by the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (Grade: A).
The Gophers begin the WCHA season at MTU next weekend and that will be a much more physical game. Go Gophers!