No. 8 Minnesota (2-2-0 overall, 1-1-0 B1G) vs. No. 4 North Dakota (3-0-1 overall, 0-0-0 NCHC)
Date: Friday, Oct. 20, 2017
Location: Ralph Engelstad Arena | Grand Forks, ND
Puck Drop: 7:37 p.m. CT
TV: Midco Sports Network (No Twin Cities Coverage)
Stream: NCHC.tv (Subscription Required)
Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM, 103.5 FM
Date: Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017
Location: Ralph Engelstad Arena | Grand Forks, ND
Puck Drop: 7:07 p.m. CT
TV: Midco Sports Network (No Twin Cities Coverage)
Stream: NCHC.tv (Subscription Required)
Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM, 103.5 FM
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
It’s the biggest regular season of the year for the Gophers, and fans in much of Minnesota won’t be able to catch the action on TV. Joe Senser’s is airing the games locally, and outside of a four outstate communities. Cheers to listening to Wally and Frank call the action!
Okay, enough with the TV griping, this is going to be an amazing series. The Gophers hold the edge over North Dakota in one of college hockey’s most heated rivalries, 147-130-16.
Minnesota will travel to Grand Forks for the first time since the 2011-2012 season. The Gophers split the weekend with a 2-1 loss and a dominant 6-2 victory.
The rivals met last year and played to a 5-5 tie in the opener and Minnesota went on to win the finale in shutout fashion, 2-0.
Unfortunately, the Fighting Hawks come into the game ranked 4th in the country with a 3-0-1 record. UND goalie Cam Johnson has been a big reason for the early success. The senior has a .938 save percentage and is allowing just 1.22 goals per game.
Despite rarely playing each other, both teams should be well-acquainted. UND has 12 Minnesotans on their roster (but do the two from East Grand Forks really count?).
The Gophers will be shorthanded for the game. Don Lucia said early in the week that Tyler Sheehy and Scott Reedy aren’t expected to play this weekend.
STORYLINE CENTRAL
ESPN 1500’s Jess Myers takes a good luck at renewing the longtime rivalry.
According to WDAZ, North Dakota wants to treat this weekend like it’s any other series on the calendar. Really?
QUOTES
Don Lucia
On the North Dakota series:
“The series, last year, both games could have gone either way; very competitive. For the most part, it was whistle to whistle. I’m sure their fans are excited like ours were a year ago. We haven’t been up there for four or five years, now; since our last year in the WCHA. It’s always a fun environment. If you’re a competitor, as a coach you want to be in that environment. As a player, I think you want that as well.”
Ryan Lindgren
On the atmosphere at Ralph Engelstad Arena:
“Going into it you always hear it’s going to be sold out. We haven’t really played in an atmosphere like that. Duluth was pretty good but there’s nothing like going to the Ralph. You just have to go into it and not think too much about the fans. Just have to think about playing your game, staying together. The fans are going to be all over you, they’re going to be heckling. We just have to make sure we stay together and not lose control out there.”