December 7th, 2024: Liam Souliere picked up a 22-save shutout in the Gophers’ 2-0 win over Michigan on Saturday.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – A border battle between Wisconsin and Minnesota is always a fun series but nothing seems to compare to a Michigan vs Minnesota series, especially recently.
On Friday, the Gophers shutout Michigan 6-0 on a 32-save shutout from their Sophomore goaltender Nathan Airey. On Saturday, Liam Souliere turned aside all 22 shots he faced in a 2-0 win over Michigan.
The Wolverines finished the game with 42 penalty minutes with two game misconducts. The first happened after Brody Lamb fired a shot on net in the first period and tried to get to his rebound before the whistle blew. He didn’t and instead picked up a slashing penalty. Jackson Hallum then took a run at Lamb and fired about three jabs at Lamb who was down on the ice after taking a cross-check.
As this was going on, Tyler Duke decided to punch one of the Gophers forwards who was standing in front of the net. He was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for fighting.
With the man advantage, the Gophers were able to capitalize. Sam Rinzel caught a pass from Oliver Moore, who finished the weekend with four assists, and fired home his eighth goal of the season.
Last season the Gophers scored nine goals from their defense. This year in just 18 games, the Gophers have 15 goals from their defensemen.
“He finds a way, like every night, to make an impact in the game,” Gophers head coach Bob Motzko said on Rinzel. “With the injuries we have right now, our d-corps is the strength right now. I mean, they’re elite. It’s really an elite group, and we’re pretty fortunate.”
Rinzel and Ryan Chesley have combined for 13 of the team’s 15 goals this season from their backend, but what Luke Mittelstadt does on a nightly basis should not go unnoticed or not talked about.
“He’s quietly, maybe one of the better defensemen in the country. In a deep d-corps, he doesn’t get that (talk), but we all see it,” Motzko said on Mittelstadt. “Like he’s a stud, his battle level, he’s just been great.”
In the first period, Souliere got caught out of position a little bit and the Wolverines had an opportunity to score on a semi-open net but Mittelstadt went into the net and saved a goal. He then blocked another big chance for Michigan in the second period.
“He is the smartest player out there. He’s a step ahead,” Souliere said on Mittelstadt. “He uses his legs and his brain because he knows that sometimes his body, he’s not gonna hit back. He’s not Ryan Chesley or Cal Thomas. But yeah, I mean offensively too. He’s a wizard, and he’s, underrated 100 percent. When I was playing against him, I didn’t know he was this good. And, you know, he’s, a rockstar.”
Souliere turned aside 22 shots in his shutout over Michigan a night after Nathan Airey picked up his first collegiate shutout in a 6-0 win over Michigan.
This marked the first time since 1943 that the Gophers have shutout Michigan in back-to-back games.
After Airey got his first career shutout, Souliere was the first guy to congratulate him. He even got the puck for Airey to keep. The sophomore goaltender called Souliere his best friend and someone he looks up to and learns from daily. These two, truly have become one of, if not, the best goaltending tandem in the NCAA.
“I mean, we’re best friends. Like, he ran over to me and just yelled congrats,” Airey said on Souliere on Friday. “That guy has got a lot of emotion, right? Compared to me, I’m not as emotional as he is, but it’s just really cool to have somebody like that. A fifth-year who came in and knows what it’s all about and is here for me, and I’m here for him as well.”
Postgame, Souliere said that Airey challenged him to get a shutout since he had one the night before. Souliere joked that Airey is very robotic but has a calm demeanor which is the opposite of Souliere’s crazy high-energy personality. But maybe that is what makes them such a good tandem.
“Yeah, he’s a little robotic. He’s got the super common demeanor. But yeah, I mean, he’s such an unbelievable partner,” Souliere said. “I mean, we’ve really gotten close together and it’s been so fun competing together every week. Yeah, he’s such a great guy.”
Motzko joked postgame about how easy it is to decide who is the starting goaltender for a game.
“You know, this is the easiest decision I’ve ever made in coaching,” Motzko said on his goaltenders. “We have two good goalies, why would I… my wife would hit me if I made a different move right now. They are doing a great job.”
It was a big win for the Gophers and nice to sweep Michigan to improve to 15-2-1 on the year, but it came with a cost. They lost two guys to injuries tonight, making next weekend a huge test.
Mason Nevers, Erik Pahlsson, and Aaron Huglen were all hurt heading into tonight’s game. Cal Thomas and August Falloon left the game in the second period with lower-body injuries and Matthew Wood will be leaving for the Word Juniors Tournament. The Gophers already had Axel Begley playing forward tonight because of Huglen’s injury and could be down two more forwards next week.
If none of them are healthy enough to play, the Gophers may have to play short of 12 forwards or elect to play another defenseman at forward. Max Rud has yet to play a game this season but could be on his way in the lineup if Thomas is out next week.
The team can’t catch a break but yet they still are winning.
“We lost two more bodies,” Motzko said. “That’s kind of part of the story right now, but our guys, just the guts and determination of how we played to finish the game was great. Just outstanding.”