Feb. 5th, 2022: Gophers notch their first Saturday night win since January 7th with the 3-1 win over the Spartans.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – Yesterday, Gophers head coach Bob Motzko got his 350th career win. Tonight, his No. 8 Gophers got off to an early start with a quick goal just 99 seconds into the game. Eventually earning Motzko his 75th career win as the Gophers head coach.
With Ben Meyers off in the Olympics, Motzko’s Gophers only have one player currently playing with a letter on his jersey and it’s Minnesota-born, Sammy Walker. Before the game, Motzko called out his veteran line saying they need to step up. Walker proved why he is the only Gopher with a “C” on his jersey tonight scoring two quick goals, which propelled the Gophers to their first home sweep since October.
The Gophers are now 17-11-0 on the year and 12-6-0 in the Big Ten. With their sweep over the Spartans, the Gophers have now extended their winning streak to nine straight versus Michigan State. Also, the win has clinched home ice for the Gophers in the opening round of the Big Ten playoffs.
Gophers’ goalie Justen Close stopped 25 in the 3-1 win earning his 5th career win as their new starter. Close’s 25 saves played spoiler to the Spartans as they have lost their eighth straight, dropping to 11-16-0 on the year and 5-13-0 in the Big Ten.
Ben Brinkman opened the scoring for the Gophers with his first goal in 123 games. It was only his second career goal but his first of the year got the Gophers up early 1-0 in the first period.
“I don’t think Brinkman could have shot the puck any harder. I mean my goodness,” said Motzko who earned his 75th career win as the Gophers head coach. “It almost went through the net. It was a great goal and we know he can do that. We see it in practice and invite him to do it in games. I just took 123 games to do it.”
What a phenomenal pass by Rhett Pitlick to Ben Brinkman to make it a 1-0 @GopherHockey lead, pic.twitter.com/jp5ltaGK6R
— Alex Micheletti (@AlexMicheletti) February 5, 2022
With the trio off in the Olympics and Jaxon Nelson still hurt, the Gophers are down four very valuable players in the most important stretch of games. After tonight’s win, the Gophers clinched home ice in the opening round of the Big Ten playoffs. As it may be a sigh of relief for the Gophers, there still is more to be done.
With two tough Big Ten matchups on the road against Ohio State next weekend and Penn State the following weekend, the Gophers need to use all 18 players, possibly more, to battle against the heavyweights. The McLaughlin-Walker-Brodzinski line needs to step up, they know that and Motzko tells them that.
Walker proved why he wears a C on his chest as he first drew a penalty then with the extra attacker found the back of the net with his tenth of the year. Walker added another, on the power play which eventually sealed it for the Gophers as they swept past the Spartans.
“Last night our freshman stepped up for us and in the second night when we needed it, our captain stepped up,” said Motzko. “LaCombe and Koster also had great games. They all did. But none better than our captain Sammy Walker.”
Close stopped 25 tonight, improving to a 5-3-0 record with a .914 save percentage and a 2.13 goals-against average.
“Close was confident and calm. He settles in there, he had a great feel to him,” said Motzko. “Michigan State was feeding off the tie and coming at Close. Their energy level was high and they had some great chances. But Close was just calm and cool.”
Closing Remarks
The Gophers will be hoping to get Jaxon Nelson back for the road trip to Ohio State this next weekend as he has missed the last nine games for the Gophers.
Rhett Pitlick continues his point surge as he adds three points on the weekend. He owns one goal and five assists in his last 10 games for the Gophers.
Jackson LaCombe recorded two assists in the weekend and notched his 50th career point as a Minnesota Gopher. LaCombe holds one goal and seven assists in his last ten games and 13 points in his last 15 games. LaCombe also led the Gophers with 12 shots over the weekend series.