Jan. 15th, 2022: In a series of many storylines, the Gophers were able to kick off the series with a 4-1 victory over the Alaska Nanooks, but later fell 3-2 in the series finale.
–> Follow @Dylanloucks4 on Twitter
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – In what was a very unusual and hectic week, the Gophers were able to get back on the ice and do what they are brought here to do, play hockey.
In what seemed to be a “new year new Gophers team,” Friday night’s win proved to be that with a game of many firsts. Following the sweep over Michigan University, the Gophers seemed to turn the page and start 2022 with three straight wins.
Former Gophers goaltender Jack LaFontaine made his NHL debut with a relief appearance on Thursday, January 13th against the Columbus Blue Jackets. One day later on Friday, January 14th, Junior goalie Justin Close made his first career start with the Gophers.
Tristan Broz scored his first career Division one goal, Justin Close earned his first collegiate win, and Sammy Walker became the 85th Gopher to record 100 career points.
Broz has played in 17 of the Gophers’ 20 games this year and has found himself a healthy scratch three times this year. Yet Broz has not let that get to his head. The freshman forward is on the top power-play unit and continues to create chances for his teammates, but hasn’t been able to get that first goal out of the way.
Mike Koster made a great move around the defender and found Broz out front, Broz turned and attempted a pass to Cruikshank far-side, skipping off the Alaska defender the puck squirted back on the stick of Broz who banged home his first NCAA goal.
“It’s great, we have seen this one coming for a while now,” said Gophers head coach Bob Motzko. “Number one was a stinker for him to get, but the great thing is number two, three, and four will come very quickly.”
Someone pick up that puck!
What a shot for goal No. 1, @tristanbroz! pic.twitter.com/63F83tMshl
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 15, 2022
The message in the locker room is next man up and with Lafontaines’ sudden departure, Jaxon Nelson and Rhett Pitlick out with injuries, and a couple of players out with COVID, it is great to see the players responding to their coach. One, in particular, Justin Close. The native of Saskatchewan stopped 14 shots in the 4-1 win.
“It was different not having Jack back there, but we all trust Closer,” said defenseman Ben Brinkman, who added three assists. “We’re all excited for him. He’s a great goalie and you saw that tonight.”
The freshman sensation Matthew Knies just keeps on chugging along as he scored his eighth goal of the year. Senior forward Blake McLaughlin added a highlight-reel goal for the Gophers to regain the two-goal lead. Jackson LaCombe later picked up his first goal of the season with the empty netter.
Gustavs Grigals Shines Bright In The Gophers Loss
The Junior goaltender stood on his head in Saturday night 3-2 win over the Gophers stopping 36 out of 38 shots. Homesick? Not so much. Grigals’ hometown of Riga, Latvia, is 4,520 miles away from 3M Arena at Mariucci. Alaska’s captain was the deciding factor in the Gophers 3-2 loss.
“Their goaltender was the best guy on the ice tonight, no question about that, he was outstanding,” said Motzko. “But we can’t give up the chances we gave up tonight.”
Blake McLaughlin added yet another highlight-reel goal, but later became a moot point for the Gophers. McLaughlin took a beautiful outlet pass from Staudacher to spring him with the breakaway where he eventually ripped it far side past Grigals. Just 15 seconds later in their own end, Staudacher tried to feed McLaughlin up the middle but was picked off by Alaska’s Matt McKim, who later set up Brayden Nicholetts.
“We tie the game and then our defenseman makes an ‘up the gut pass,’ turns it over, and now we’re down 2-1 just 15 seconds later,” said Motzko. “We just handed the lead right back to them. Then we have a poor backcheck, a simple hockey backcheck that we don’t execute and now it’s 3-1.”
Another big-time freshman, Chaz Lucius opened the third period with a quick goal just 18 seconds in. But resulting in not enough as the Gophers fall to 13-9-0 on the year. Although this loss won’t affect the Gophers’ Big-Ten standings, it may affect them down the stretch in the seeding of the NCAA tournament.
With the red hot Michigan Wolverines coming into town next weekend, the Gophers need to dig down deep and find their true identities. The Gophers will be expecting Brock Faber and Aaron Huglen to return but will still be without Jaxon Nelson and Rhett Pitlick.
The Nanooks started the game exactly how they wanted to. Forcing a defensive turnover in the neutral zone gave Brady Risk the opportunity to give his team the lead. Risk found Didrik Henbrant who eventually got it over to Filip Fornaa Svensson in front of Close, where Svensson pulled off a nifty backhand shot to beat Close just 59 seconds into the game.
“It was a tough one tonight,” said Close, who made his second career start stopping 12 on 15 shots. “We put some pressure on them in the third and carried the play for most of it but there were a few mistakes and a few lulls we had, and we can’t afford to have them.”
The Gophers attempted 25 shots in the third period alone but Grigals turned aside everything that came his way. When the final buzzer went a mad scrum broke out. Despite outshooting the Nanooks 38-15, all the Gophers had to show for was 38 penalty minutes.
“We chased the game and we did enough that we deserved to lose the game tonight,” Motzko said.