Jan. 29th, 2022: In the trio’s last series before hopping on a plane to Los Angeles for training camp, USA’s Ben Meyers, Matthew Knies, and Brock Faber helped the Gophers pull out four of the six possible points in South Bend, Indiana.
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The No.10 Minnesota Golden Gophers and the No. 11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish met at Compton Family Ice Arena on Friday for their second season series. Separated by only three points in the Big Ten standings and coming off a series sweep against the Irish in late October, things were looking rather promising for the Gophers as they flew past the Irish in a 5-1 victory.
A feeling out process so to speak, as both sides failed to record a shot in the opening five minutes of the game. Gophers’ senior forward Grant Cruikshank has opened the last two games with the team’s first shot, this time it went in.
In game two of the Michigan series, Cruikshank stripped Owen Power of the puck and ripped one off the blocker of Erik Portillo to start the game. Six days later, Cruikshank forced another turnover this time on Notre Dame’s Chase Blackum. Ryan Johnson picked up the puck and sent it along the boards to Cruikshank who walked in and beat Matthew Galajda’s glove side.
“It was a great start for us. We’ve been a great road team all year, and I think we have a nice little comfort when we come on the road with each other,” Cruikshank said. “We came out flying. It was great.”
A great start for sure as the Gophers scored three first period goals to chase Galada out of the game on the first five shots. The Gophers later got a pair of goals from Blake McLaughlin, who now has 9 goals in 12 career games played at Compton Family Ice Arena. Tristan Broz and Sammy Walker added two more goals for the Gophers capping off a five goal night for the boys of maroon and gold. But don’t let five goals fool you from the fact Justen Close posted a career-high 28 saves in the win as he was brilliant.
“Strong game for us. All four lines were in on the offense tonight,” said Gophers coach Bob Motzko. “Good transition, good team speed, good team defense. One bad penalty kill. That was it…It was an awful strong game by us.”
Following Cruikshank’s goal, Tristan Broz scored his second collegiate goal just over two minutes later. A play that started with great offensive zone pressure by the Gophers, was later rewarded with Broz’s strong net front presence banging home Jackson LaCombe’s point shot.
Just about three minutes later, Blake McLaughlin scored his eighth goal of the year banking one off the back of Galajda. Not only did Close record a career high 28 saves in the win, but he also recorded his first career point on McLaughlin’s first goal of the night. Only 37 seconds into period number two, Sammy Walker scored on the first shot of the period making it a 4-0 game.
Late in the second period, Justin Janicke scored on the power play, ending Close’s shutout bid. Close proceeded to stop 12 shots en route to a 5-1 win. McLaughlin scored his ninth of the year three minutes after Notre Dame’s power-play goal and eventually ended the game.
Gophers’ Comeback Falls Short As The Irish Win In OT
Saturday night’s contest between the Irish and the Gophers was yet another battle of some Big Ten heavyweights. The Gophers mounted a late comeback but later fell to the overtime’s common two-on-one goal. Notre Dame’s Landon Slaggert scored on his own rebound just 22 seconds into the extra frame.
The Gophers went scoreless in three power play attempts despite playing a hair over two and a half minutes on the man advantage. Two first period power plays for the Gophers which later turned into 4-on-4’s via penalties called on the Gophers.
Notre Dame’s Max Ellis opened the scoring on a laser from the point that beat Close high glove. Later, Trevor Janicke doubled the Irish lead cashing in on the 2-on-1 rush. A frustrating first period for the Gophers as they threw eight shots at Minnesota native Ryan Bischel and had nothing to show for it but a zero on the scoreboard.
“He’s a good goalie. You’ve got to get a couple on him to get it in the net,” said Gophers forward Jonny Sorenson told the media. “Put it there and he’ll save the first shot most of the time.”
The Gophers got on the board quickly in the second as Ben Meyers, who will be swapping out his maroon and gold jersey for a red, white, and blue one for the next three weeks, scored his 11th of the season. Pucks looked like beach balls to Bischel despite the pure domination by the Gophers in the second period outshooting the Irish 12-3.
Bryce Brodzinski later added his 11th of the year on the tip-in goal on Ryan Johnson’s point shot. The Gophers and Irish carried the tie into overtime but just 22 seconds into OT, Landon Slaggert followed up on his own rebound beating Close blocker-side.
Ultimately, the Gophers were able to grab four points out of the six possible and played yet another strong series. With everything this team has been through recently, they have been playing some of their best hockey and Motzko has stated that time and time again.
“We played good tonight. We played one heck of a game,” said Gophers coach Bob Motzko. “We hunkered down after the first period. That Slaggert line scored two big goals for them tonight and that’s what those guys do, but we played our tails off tonight.”
What’s Next?
With Meyers, Knies, and Faber unavailable for the next six games due to the Olympics, the Gophers are going to need some guys to step up and fill the holes the trio are leaving behind. Which is why we have seen Cruikshank’s ice time increasing, as well as freshmen Aaron Huglen and Tristan Broz.
Gophers will host Michigan State on Feb. 4th and 5th at home before heading back on the road against Ohio State on Feb. 11th and 12th. Later finishing the road trip against Penn State on Feb. 18th and 19th.
Jaxon Nelson has been tracking well and may return next weekend against Michigan but nothing is confirmed yet. The Gophers should be getting back defenseman Matt Staudacher though.