Feb. 25th, 2022: Junior goaltender Justen Close earned his first career shutout stopping 20 in the 5-0 win. Ben Meyers picked up the natural hat trick as well as going 14/17 on the faceoff dot.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – In a game full of storylines, Gophers’ captain Ben Meyers led the way with his first collegiate three goal game. Bryce Brodzinski played in his 100th career game for the Marron and Gold and Justen Close also picked up his first collegiate shutout stopping 20 in the win.
The Gophers were leading 1-0 after the first period before finding out the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish pulled off the upset against the Big Ten leading University of Michigan. Since the game ended the Gophers took control of the game in front of them notching an early second period goal and three more in the third period all by Meyers.
In the opening period, all four lines notched a shift in the first three minutes of the game. When it came time to roll out the fourth line again, Gophers’ head coach Bob Motzko elected to go with Jonny Sorenson with Grant Cruikshank and Jack Perbix letting Jaxon Nelson ease back into the swing of things. Cruikshank picked up the puck on the boards in the corner after battling and found Sorenson in the slot. Sorenson’s fourth goal of the year gave the Gophers an early 1-0 lead.
After Liam Malmquist went to the box late in the first for tripping the Gophers were sent to the power play for the second time. Starting the second period, the Gophers controlled the zone, Aaron Huglen who now has five points in his last five games, found Jackson LaCombe on the point who directed one in front. Nelson using his 6-foot-4 frame tipped one past his old Gopher buddy Jared Moe, giving the Gophers a 2-0 lead.
Since the start of the third period, it was Ben Meyers’ world and the season best 9,350 fans watched in ah. Hockey for Team USA and in the Olympics is fast-paced and aggressive. Meyers who is no stranger to fast and aggressive play translated his Olympic game into his impressive three-goal game against the Badgers.
“It was a great crowd and we noticed it right away,” Gophers’ head coach Bob Motzko said. “Maybe a little nerves by us too, because that student section was as big-time as I’ve ever seen here. Great crowd, great energy, and then we gave them life.”
Meyers’ first goal came on a stretch pass from Mike Koster in the neutral zone. Meyers stormed past the Badgers before going between the legs around a defender and ripping it off Moe’s pad. Meyers circled the net and followed up his own rebound making it a 3-0 game.
Wanna watch an Olympian score a goal?
Okay, here you go! pic.twitter.com/JKfpLJuLhd
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) February 26, 2022
Not only can Meyers score and lead by example, but he can win face-offs when they matter. Trapped in their defensive zone, Meyers took the draw to the right of Justen Close. Winning the draw the Gophers were able to start a rush chance. Controlling the play to the right of Moe, Matthew Knies did some dirty work along the boards before Nevers swooped in and eventually found Meyers in the slot where he banged home his second of the game and 13th of the season.
LaCombe added another multi-point effort with his second assist on Meyers’ third goal of the game. LaCombe now has ten points in his last ten games and five two point games during that stretch. The hats came flying over the boards after Mason Nevers found Meyers on the left side. Nevers recorded his sixth assist of the season and second of the game. He now holds six goals and 12 points in 31 games this year.
Final Thoughts
The Gophers wrap up the regular season with another tilt against the Badgers. A win and series sweep would put another banner in the rafters of the historic 3M Arena at Mariucci. A win would crown them as Big Ten champions. Motzko stated Chaz Lucius will not return for the series finale.
Ben Meyers finished with three goals in the 5-0 win. He now has three goals and three assists in his last two games. Meyers was also 14/17 on the face-off dot and carried a Gophers game-high 3.545 xGF (xGF means a player’s expected goals for)