Game 30: Minnesota vs. Michigan
Location: Mariucci Arena | Minneapolis, Minn.
Date: Thursday, Feb. 25
Puck Drop: 7:33 p.m. CT
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: BTN2Go
Radio: 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network
Game 31: Minnesota vs. Michigan
Location: Mariucci Arena | Minneapolis, Minn.
Date: Friday, Feb. 26
Puck Drop: 8:03 p.m. CT
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: BTN2Go
Radio: 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network
Inside the Matchup
It doesn’t get much more important for a February series than this matchup. The two teams are separated by just one point in the Big Ten with the Gophers holding a 33-32 edge.
Minnesota is right on the NCAA bubble if the season ended today. They’re currently 15 in RPI and could get a big boost by knocking off No. 6 Michigan.
Two of hockey’s most storied programs have quite a close history. The Gophers hold a 135-121-14 all-time advantage.
Minnesota split a two-game series in Ann Arbor early in the Big Ten season.
Storyline Central
It’s been quite a year from Wolverine freshman Kyle Connor. The 2015 first round draft pick is excelling with an incredible 24 goals and 51 points in 28 games. Ryan Lambert of Yahoo Sports makes the case for Connor to win the Hobey Baker.
Justin P. Hicks of the Ann Arbor News takes a look at the importance of this series for the Wolverines.
Nate Wells of SBNation College Hockey has a nice piece on Minnesota’s view of the coach’s challenge.
Quotes
Don Lucia
“This is one of those weekends, with Michigan, that’s a highlight of the season, just because of the tradition Michigan has; they’re always one of the top teams in the country. They have some of the top players in the country as well. We’ve had pretty good success against Michigan over the years, in this building and we’re going to need that to continue.”
On the importance of beating a highly-ranked Michigan team:
“The first thing we’re worried about right now, obviously, is fighting for the Big Ten. That’s obviously a goal when the year begins. We’re one point up and the major goal is to try and be ahead of Michigan when the two-game set ends. Obviously they’re playing really well. We’re the last team to beat them in regulation.
“They’ve only lost one game since we beat them in December. It’s going to take a great effort on our part. We’re going to have to play a really good team-defensive game, manage the puck well, and not put ourselves in odd-numbered situations because we don’t have the offensive firepower that Michigan does. We’re going to have to play really well without the puck.”
Justin Kloos
On what he has to do when going against Michigan’s top line
“I just can’t overthink it. If I become too defensive that makes me a little bit ineffective on the way I play. If I try to focus on too much individually it usually doesn’t turn out too well for the team as a whole. I think we’re going to have to keep a third forward high when we’re in the offensive zone to make sure we don’t give up too many odd-man rushes. There’s not one thing we’re focusing on but we’re just going to have to battle a little extra when they’re out there.”