Last Time Out: Minnesota won both games at Alaska Anchorage last weekend, becoming the first team to earn a sweep at Sullivan Arena since St. Cloud State on Dec. 4-5, 2009. It was the Gophers first sweep in Anchorage since Feb. 2-3, 2007 (8-2 and 2-1 wins). On Friday, Kent Patterson made 22 saves and Erik Haula had two goals and one assist as Minnesota powered its way to a 5-0 win. The Gophers also got goals from Justin Holl, Mark Alt and Nick Bjugstad. On Saturday, Zach Budish, Nate Condon and Kyle Rau (Condon and Rau goals were shorthanded) scored in a 3-1 win. Patterson made 26 saves, allowing only one power-play goal.
Minnesota vs. North Dakota: The Gophers and North Dakota will renew one of the most storied rivalries in college hockey this weekend. North Dakota visits Mariucci Arena for the first time since January 15-16, 2010, when Minnesota followed a 3-3 tie with a 5-1 win. North Dakota eliminated the Gophers in a three-game WCHA playoff series in Grand Forks, N.D. later that season and the two teams split their lone 2010-11 series, also in North Dakota. Minnesota owns a 140-128-14 advantage in the all-time series and is 76-52-6 at home. The Gophers visit North Dakota on January 13 and 14.
About North Dakota: North Dakota fell two wins short of its eighth national championship last season, losing 2-0 to Michigan at the 2011 Frozen Four in St. Paul. UND did win the 2010-11 WCHA regular season and postseason titles, however, claiming its second MacNaughton Cup in three years and its second straight Broadmoor Trophy. In the offseason, the team lost 294 points worth of production. The seven seniors from that squad, including Hobey Baker Award finalist Matt Frattin, are gone, as well as two of its top three non-senior scorers in Jason Gregoire and Brett Hextall. North Dakota has struggled in WCHA play so far this season, starting 1-3-0. UND was swept on the road by Wisconsin before splitting a home series against St. Cloud last weekend, moving the team's overall record to 3-4-1.
North Dakota is led in scoring by Danny Kristo (4g-8a) and leading returning scorer Corban Knight (4g-6a). Highly-touted freshman Rocco Grimaldi returned to action last week against SCSU after missing five games due to injury. He has one assist in three games. Rookie Nick Mattson (2g-3a) leads a strong UND defensive core with five points and former second-team AHCA All-American goaltender Aaron Dell is off to a 2-3-1 start with a 3.41 goals against average and a .843 save percentage.
