Feb. 18th, 2022: After an eventful start to the week the Gophers take the ice in Pennsylvania to close out their road stint against the Penn State Nittany Lions
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The boys of Maroon and Gold close out a four-game road stretch with a two-game series at Penn State. With game one on Friday, Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream; FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK/103.5 FM) and the weekend finale set for Saturday, Feb. 19 at 5:00 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream; FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK/103.5 FM).
The Gophers are 18-16-1 all-time record against Penn State dating back to 2014 with the creation of the Big Ten Conference. The Nittany Lions are 14-15-1 overall and 5-14-1 in the Big Ten. Despite winning their last four games the Gophers are 8-10-0 after a win and 10-5-0 on Friday night games.
Penn State has been shut out twice in their last three games, scoring two goals and allowing 16 in that span. The Nittany Lions are 9-6-1 all-time record against the Gophers at Pegula Ice Arena and have won eight-straight over Minnesota. The Gophers have not won a game at Pegula Ice Arena in five full years.
Justen Close On A Roll
As stated in my previous article, “One star goalie leaves and another star goaltender steps up.” Close has gone 7-3-0 since taking over as the new starting goaltender for the Gophers. In that ten game span, Close has posted a Big Ten leading 1.91 goals against average and is seventh in the NCAA this season. Close also ranks third in the Big Ten in save percentage ( .924 SV%). Four of Close’s six wins have come against top-12 nationally ranked teams. Close also has three wins in four games against two of the top three teams in the Big Ten, Michigan University and Ohio State.
Close’s impressive run has recently had him added to the Mike Richter watch list. The award is given to the top Division I goalie in men’s hockey, named after the former Wisconsin netminder. Minnesota’s Jack LaFontaine earned the award in 2021.
Logan Cooley Commits To The Gophers
Cooley verbally committed to the University of Notre Dame when he was 14 back in 2018. As of Thursday, Cooley announced his commitment to the Gophers via his Instagram story. Gopher fans previously saw Cooley back in early January in an exhibition game versus the Gophers. Cooley assisted on two of his team’s three goals playing with Gophers commit Jimmy Snuggerud. Not only is there a connection between Cooley and Snuggerud but there is one between Cooley and Gophers freshman forward Matthew Knies. The young forward from Pittsburgh played on a line with Knies in the 2022 World Juniors tournament for team USA.
In 29 games for the U18 team this season Cooley has 15 goals and 26 assists for 41 points. Cooley’s current NHL draft projection states he is a no-brainer top ten pick. Not only that, some suggest Cooley could go first overall over Shane Wright. Cooley has also added over 15 pounds of muscle since last season. His elite speed and playmaking ability set him far apart from his competition.
Rhett Pitlick Earns Big Ten Second Star
Pitlick enters the series against the Penn State Nittany Lions as the Big Ten Second Star of the Week after posting two goals and two assists against Ohio State last weekend. Pitlick now has three goals and four assists for seven points in his last four games. The 21-year-old forward was drafted by the Montreal Canadians back in 2019. Interestingly enough, Rhett saw his cousin Tyler Pitlick get traded from the Calgary Flames to the Canadians on Monday the 14th. Rhett’s older brother and former Gopher Rem Pitlick also currently plays for the Canadians.
Gophers’ Olympians
Gophers’ Ben Meyers, Brock Faber, and Matthew Knies wrapped up their Olympic play this week while competing for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. The trio will not return to play against Penn State but will be expected to play the following week against the Wisconsin Badgers.