Minnesota (6-9-1, 4-7-1) at Michigan Tech (3-11, 2-10)
Date: Friday-Saturday, Dec. 11-12
Time: 6 p.m. (Central time)
Location: MacInnes Arena (4,128)
Series History: Minnesota leads 165-76-15
Radio: KYCR 1570 AM - Fri. / WCCO 830 AM -Sat. - Wally Shaver and Glen Sonmor
Television: none
Live Web Streaming: michigantechhuskies.com
Minnesota concludes the first half of its season with a two-game series at Michigan Tech this weekend. The Gophers have split their past two weekend series and play their final two road games before playing six straight home games after the holiday break. It is the only meetings between the Gophers and the Huskies this season.
Last Time Out
Minnesota bounced back for a 6-2 win at Minnesota State on Saturday after a 3-1 home loss the previous night. Josh Birkholz scored his first two career goals and Nick Leddy added his first career goal in a three-goal first period. Taylor Matson, Patrick White and Nico Sacchetti also each scored in the victory. Alex Kangas made 20 saves in Saturday's win, while Kent Patterson had a career-high 39 saves in Friday's loss.
Series History
Minnesota leads the all-time series 165-75-15 and is 9-3-2 in the last 14 meetings. The Gophers are 10-1-3 in their last 14 games at Michigan Tech with the only loss being a 6-5 overtime setback last season. In fact, Don Lucia is 18-3-6 all-time at MacInnes Arena with his only other two losses coming in 1990 as the head coach at Alaska-Fairbanks. Alex Kangas shutout the Huskies twice last year with a 3-0 win at home and a 2-0 win in Houghton.
About the Huskies
Michigan Tech brings a five-game losing streak into the weekend after losing at Wisconsin 8-2 and 6-0 last weekend. All five of the games during the streak have been on the road as the Huskies are playing their first home games since Nov. 6-7. The Huskies have conference wins over St. Cloud State at home and at Minnesota Duluth, but have scored two goals or less in eight of their last 10 games. They have been outscored 30-7 during their current losing streak and rank last nationally in scoring defense, allowing 4.43 goals per game. Michigan Tech has especially struggled on the penalty kill as opponents have scored at a 37.8 percent rate, which is the highest in the country. The Huskies' opponents have 34 power play goals in 90 chances. Sophomore Brett Olson is off to a strong start with seven goals and eight assists for 15 points. Senior Malcom Gwillam, who missed most of last season, has put up six goals and six assists for 12 points in his return. The Huskies have primarily turned to a freshman goaltender as Kevin Genoe has a 3.86 goals against average and .896 save percentage while playing in 11 of the team's 14 games.
First-Timers
Three Minnesota players recorded their first goals of the season in Saturday's win at Minnesota State, including two freshmen who notched their first career goals. Josh Birkholz scored twice in the first period and Nick Leddy also tallied a first period goal as the Gophers jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Sophomore Taylor Matson collected his second career goal and first of the year in the third period.
Birkholz Breaks Out
In addition to his first two goals, freshman forward Josh Birkholz led the Gophers with eight shots on goal in the series with Minnesota State. Not included in that total were two solid chances in the third period of Friday's loss when he put a shot off the side of the cage after splitting two defenders and when he ripped a shot off the crossbar late in the game
Leddy Returns
Freshman defenseman Nick Leddy's first goal came in his second game back to the lineup after missing the previous nine games with a broken jaw. Leddy also played Friday night and has now appeared in seven games this season. He has not committed a penalty yet this year.
Encore Performance
Sophomore goaltender Kent Patterson finished with a career high in saves for the second straight game in Friday's 3-1 loss. Patterson totaled 39 saves in the defeat. He had 37 saves in his previous start against Michigan State. Over the past two starts, Patterson has stopped 76 of 79 shots for a .962 save percentage. He allowed four goals on 10 shots in his previous outing in relief against Bemidji State on Nov. 15.
Kangas Comes Back
Junior goaltender Alex Kangas also bounced back from a tough outing against Michigan with 20 saves in Saturday's 6-2 win at Minnesota State. Kangas now has a 2.75 goals against average and .911 save percentage for the season. It marked the first time Kangas did not play in consecutive games since Dec. 1 and 7, 2007 against Michigan Tech and North Dakota
Strength of Schedule
Minnesota's first eight opponents this season have a combined record of 76-47-11 for an impressive .608 winning percentage. Six of the eight teams are ranked in this week's national poll and three of them are among the nation's top four teams. The schedule does lighten up, however. Starting last weekend, Minnesota's opponents over and eight-game span (including all three teams in the Dodge Holiday Classic) have a combined record of 23-54-11 for a .324 winning percentage. Prior to last week's series with Minnesota State, the Gophers' only opponent with a losing record was Alaska Anchorage
Limited Chances
Minnesota has not scored on the power play over the past four games, but the Gophers' chances have been limited. The Gophers have had just five power play chances over the past three games. They had only one power play opportunity in consecutive games against Michigan State and Minnesota State with each coming in the first three minutes of the game. Minnesota is 0-for-12 on the power play over the past two weekends after scoring on the man-advantage in six of its previous seven games. The Gophers were 8-for-29 (27.6 percent) over that span. Their 66 power play chances for the season are the fewest of any WCHA team.
Late Game Lockdown
Entering the third period of Saturday's game with a one-goal lead, the Gophers held Minnesota State to just three shots on goal in the final period, matching the lowest they've held an opponent in a period this season. Alaska Anchorage had three shots in the first period on Oct. 30. Minnesota also added three goals of its own to finish off the victory.
Hansen Heating Up
Sophomore Jake Hansen notched his third goal in a six-game span with his first period score on Friday. With an assist during that stretch, Hansen scored points in four of the six games. Oddly, all four games that Hansen has scored have resulted in Gopher losses. Minnesota has been shutout in four of its other five defeats.
