Gophers Host Michigan (1/21/22 &1/22/22)

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Michigan to Head to No. 11 Minnesota for Battle of Top Two Big Ten Teams - University of Michigan Athletics

The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team (18-6-1, 9-5-0 Big Ten) looks to create space in the Big Ten standings as it heads to No. 11 Minnesot...

mgoblue.com

Wolverine Bites

• Michigan is 18-6-1 after sweeping Penn State last weekend to move back into first place in the Big Ten standings.

• The Wolverines are ranked No. 3 in USCHO poll and No. 4 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.

• Brendan Brisson is Michigan's leading goal-scorer with 15 tallies in addition to 15 assists. Tied with Brisson at a team-high 30 points is Matty Beniers with 14 goals and 16 assists. One point back, Kent Johnson has six goals and a team-high 23 assists in just 21 games played. Defenseman Owen Power (3G, 21A), the nation's highest-scoring blueliner, has 24 points, while newcomer Luke Hughes also has been a standout, scoring nine goals with 13 assists for 22 points as the top scoring freshman defender in the nation. Last year's leading scorer, Thomas Bordeleau (6G, 15A) is currently sixth.

• Owen Power and senior captain Nick Blankenburg lead U-M in blocked shots with 30 apiece.

• Sophomore Erik Portillo has started every game in net for the Wolverines, assembling an 18-6-1 record with two shutouts, a .921 save percentage, and a 2.31 goals-against average.

Series History

This week's series with Minnesota will mark the 295th and 296th meetings between the two storied programs. The Gophers hold a 146-129-19 advantage in the all-time series. The teams split their series earlier in the season at Yost with Minnesota taking the opener 5-1 (Dec. 3) before Michigan earned a 6-2 victory in the finale (Dec. 4).

Scouting the Golden Gophers

• The 11th-ranked Golden Gophers are 13-9 this season after splitting a pair with Alaska-Fairbanks last weekend.

• Minnesota's attack is led by two U.S. Olympians, with Ben Meyers leading across the board in scoring at nine goals, 15 assists, and 24 points, with freshman Matthew Knies (8G, 14A) two points behind. The duo, along with defenseman Brock Faber, will join four current and former Wolverines in representing Team USA in Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Seniors Blake McLaughlin (7G, 14A) and Sammy Walker (8G, 8A) also play critical, top-six roles.

• On the blue line, a balanced and talent-laden group including Faber (2G, 9A), Ryan Johnson (2G, 9A), and Jackson LaCombe (1G, 10A) form an outstanding defense corps along with defensive stalwart Ben Brinkman (5A) and Michigander Matt Staudacher (3A).

• With Jack LaFontaine's NHL signing, senior Justen Close skates into the crease as the team's No. 1 goaltender. Close has a .902 save percentage along with a 2.04 goals-against average

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

A great night at Mariucci. How many times did the Wolverine goalie dislodge the net when the heat was on?

 

[UncleSam'sMisguidedChild]

Very fun night. Gophers looked fast and determined tonight. Close was solid in net with one spectacular save. Michigan is unbelievably talented. Fun team to watch.

Portillo dislodged the net on his own twice that I can remember and several more with an absolutely minimal bump, usually from his own D man.

 

[GopherJack]

Didn't see the game, but you're saying the goalie and his teammates are intentionally dislodging the net? Is this something the league/officials can review post-game and possibly dish out penalties in the future, if this behavior persists? Have you ever seen a penalty called for intentionally dislodging the net?

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

A goalie dislodging the net by pushing off with his skate is like a goalie shaking off his helmet to get whistle. It rarely draws a penalty because intent is hard to determine. But, after it happens several times there's usually at least a warning. Anyway, there was just enough controversy to add some extra spice to the proceedings.

I've said it before-the 12 minute intermissions and the one-in period commercial break is terrific. Last night's game with plenty of action and an overtime winner still logged in at just about two hours.

 

[PMWinSTP]

Great performance all around. Announcers touched on it...Close was fantastic at directing shots to the corners. Looks completely comfortable between the pipes.

 

[upnorthkid]

Very fun night. Gophers looked fast and determined tonight. Close was solid in net with one spectacular save. Michigan is unbelievably talented. Fun team to watch.

Portillo dislodged the net on his own twice that I can remember and several more with an absolutely minimal bump, usually from his own D man.

It was 6 or 7 and almost all of his own doing

 

[Outsider]

It was 6 or 7 and almost all of his own doing

There is history with him. I was at the MTU/Mich GLI game at Yost and he knocked it off at least that many times if not more. Almost always when Tech was buzzing the net and putting pressure on. Our fans rode the officials but it was never called or warned.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

There is history with him. I was at the MTU/Mich GLI game at Yost and he knocked it off at least that many times if not more. Almost always when Tech was buzzing the net and putting pressure on. Our fans rode the officials but it was never called or warned.

Saturday night he only dislodged the net once; but it was in the third period during a Gopher flurry and right before Meyers, I think, was going to rifle a shot from the right face off circle.