Minnesota (3-4-0) vs. Minnesota State (5-5-0)
Date: Friday, Nov. 13
Location: Verizon Wireless Center | Mankato, Minn.
Puck Drop: 7:07 p.m. CT
TV: Comcast 999 (Twin Cities), Charter 191 & 826 (Mankato)
Radio: MyTalk 107.1 FM, Gopher Radio Network
Date: Saturday, Nov. 14
Location: Mariucci Arena | Minneapolis, Minn.
Puck Drop: 7:05 p.m. CT
TV: FOX Sports North PLUS
Stream: BTN2Go, FOX Sports Go
Radio: 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
The Gophers hold a commanding 35-11-6 advantage in the all-time series. The series has been close recently, with the Gophers going 5-4-0 in the last nine meetings.
The in-state rivals faced off just once last year with the Mavericks winning 4-2 in the North Star College Cup.
Minnesota holds a 5-0 National Championship advantage.
STORYLINE CENTRAL
Shane Frederick of the Mankato Free Press has a recap of the Maverick’s 7-4 loss last week to Ferris State. Mankato lost their first four games of the year but went on a five game winning streak before the Friday loss.
Frederick also has a column regarding the Mavericks’ ability to pick up a road split against Ferris State.
NOTES AND QUOTES
Scouting the Mavericks
Mankato brings an experienced team into the weekend, one that has found success against the Gophers.
“They skate well,” said Don Lucia of the Mavericks. “Obviously, they’re an older veteran team. I don’t think anybody on our team has played down there since the breakup of the league so it’ll be different.”
The Gophers know they’ll be facing a hot Mankato squad.
“They started slow like we did but all of a sudden they’ve won five out of six and we’ve won three out of four so both teams seem to be playing better,” said Lucia.
In-state Rivalry
With the new Big Ten in hockey, the Gophers lost some of the in-state conference rivalries fans were used to. Fortunately, the Maroon and Gold keep these rivalries alive in the non-conference schedule.
“I think that they’re still important, obviously,” said Lucia of the rivalries. “The reality is, you’re not playing for points, but they’re part of your 34-game schedule so every game becomes important. I still think there’s a little bit extra when you’re playing for points on the board and I think you see that the games are intense, the conference games seem to be a little bit more intense.”
Even for the young players, it doesn’t take much to get pumped for playing another in-state team.
“Going to Duluth for the first time, their whole student section was there right when warmups started so it’s not hard to buy in,” said freshman Eric Schierhorn. “We want to be No. 1 in the state so these games are huge. …It’s fun to have that rivalry. We didn’t really have that in the USHL but it’s cool, really cool.”