SB Nation Minnesota - Gophers Hockey: Minnesota Wins 3-2 Saturday; Sweeps Minnesota Statehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2011-12-04T00:26:25-06:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23707472011-12-04T00:26:25-06:002011-12-04T00:26:25-06:00Gophers Hockey: 3 Goal First Period Enough As Minnesota Sweeps Minnesota State
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<p>One of the things which Minnesota stressed last night was the need to start strong. With three goals in the first twenty minutes, it's safe to say mission accomplished.</p>
<p>Despite two goals by Zach Lehrke, Minnesota (13-4-1, 10-2-0 WCHA) completed the weekend home sweep defeating Minnesota State (3-12-1, 2-9-1 WCHA) 3-2 Saturday. The Gophers only needed 2:37 to get on the board after Seth Ambroz scored his third goal of the season. With Zach Lehrke in the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct, the freshman spent most of the ensuing two minutes camped in front of Mavericks goalie Austin Lee. That patience and second effort was rewarded with his first goal since the opening game of the season.</p>
<p>"It felt like getting a monkey off my back" said Ambroz</p>
<p>Linemate Taylor Matson added his second goal this weekend six minutes later as the senior captain fired a wrist shot over Lee's right shoulder to make it 2-0 Minnesota. Kyle Rau tacked on his 11th goal of the season with 1:19 left after receiving a cross-ice pass from Mark Alt on the doorstep.</p>
<p>Minnesota State had their own chances to keep pace but Gophers goaltender Kent Patterson turned away an early Justin Jokinen breakaway en route to 26 saves. It was one of five breakaway chances the Mavericks missed throughout the weekend, which Minnesota State coach Troy Jutting harped on after the game.</p>
<p>Besides breakaways, penalties became a major story in Saturday's game. The referees called 22 penalties between the two teams, which forced long stretches of special teams play.</p>
<p>"Special teams is huge...it's something which we practice a lot," said Matson.</p>
<p>Although the Mavericks went scoreless on three power play opportunities in the first period, their persistence was rewarded on the fourth. With Minnesota's Justin Holl in the box for cross-checking, Lehrke was able to sneak a slow shot past a couple defenders and Patterson to cut the lead to 3-1.</p>
<p>The stretches of penalty killing seemed to get to Minnesota as the night went on, but they still had their chances and out-shot the Mavericks 16-10 in the second period. Both Nate Schmidt and Kyle Rau each hit the post (or in Rau's case, both posts and a behind the back save by Lee) in the middle frame and Nate Condon missed an open net in the closing seconds of the second period buckled down defensively.</p>
<p>"We knew [Minnesota State] would come out physical," said Ambroz. "[It was something] that we needed to match."</p>
<p>The Mavericks cut into Minnesota's lead with Lehrke's second goal 4 minutes into the third period. With Kyle Rau in the box for a very questionable roughing penalty (one of many calls the announced crowd of 9,710 at Mariucci Arena did not agree with) and Jake Hansen sitting next to him, Minnesota State was able to get movement on the 90 second 5x3 and made it into a 3-2 game. Despite a few late charges, that was as close as they got as the Minnesota defense and special teams made the difference.</p>
<p>Like Friday, tonight's game was not pretty at times but the Gophers were able to get the job done. The penalties took them out of their first period rhythm but other factors like going 7-9 on the penalty kill ended up making a difference.</p>
<p>"We took two wins at home which is important to us," said Minnesota head coach Don Lucia. "Now we need to go back to work on Monday."</p>
<p>Although the top three teams in the USCHO poll lost at least once this weekend - meaning the Gophers should move up into one of the top two spots - it is still too early in the season to rest on their laurels. Tonight's opening twenty minutes could be next week's penalty kill, but the fact that the team recognizes there is work to be done is encouraging to see.</p>
<p><i>Minnesota hosts Michigan Tech next weekend at Mariucci Arena. Friday's game is at 7 PM Central while Saturday's game starts at 8 PM. Both games will be broadcast on Fox Sports North. </i></p>
<p><b>SB Nation Minnesota's 3 Stars:</b><br>1. Taylor Matson UMN (1 goal, 1 assist)<br>2. Zach Lehrke MSU-M (2 goals)<br>3. Seth Ambroz UMN (1 goal, 1 assist)</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-hockey/2011/12/4/2609332/gophers-hockey-3-goal-first-period-enough-as-minnesota-sweepsNathan Wells2011-12-03T18:54:56-06:002011-12-03T18:54:56-06:00Minnesota vs. Minnesota State Saturday Night Line Combinations
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<p>After last night's 4-2 victory over Minnesota State, the Gophers are making one change to their lineup. Freshman Sam Warning, who played poorly Friday, is being scratched in favor of fellow freshman Christian Isackson. Isackson has only played in three games this season with no points as he has been unable to crack the top-twelve forwards.</p>
<p>Everything else remains the same as last night including Kent Patterson in net for the 18th straight game.</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><strong style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Minnesota Golden Gophers Line Combinations</strong><br><em style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Forwards:</em><br>Nate Condon – Taylor Matson – Seth Ambroz<br>Kyle Rau – Nick Bjugstad – Zach Budish<br>Tom Serratore – Travis Boyd – Nick Larson<br>Jake Hansen – Erik Haula – Sam Warning</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><em style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Defense:</em><br>Seth Helgeson – Justin Holl<br>Ben Marshall – Mark Alt<br>Jake Parenteau – Nate Schmidt</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><em style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Goalies (bold indicates starting):</em><br><strong style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Kent Patterson</strong><br>Michael Shibrowski<br>Jake Kremer</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><strong style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Minnesota State Line Combinations:</strong><br>Forwards:<br>J.P Burkemper – Zach Lehrke – Eriah Hayes<br>Adam Mueller – Eli Zuck – Michael Dorr<br>Jean-Paul Lafontaine – Matt Leitner – Max Gaede<br>Johnny McInnis – Justin Jokinen – Corey Leivermann</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Defense:<br>Cameron Cooper – Joe Schiller<br>Zach Palmquist – Tyler Elbrecht<br>Evan Mosey – Josh Nelson</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Goalies:<br><strong style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Austin Lee</strong><br>Evan Karambelas</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Tonight’s game starts at 7:00 PM and airs on Fox Sports North. As always, you can follow me on Twitter for in-game hockey updates live from Mariucci <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/gopherstate">@gopherstate</a> and follow <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/sbnminnesota">@sbnminnesota</a> for the best in Minnesota sports.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2011/12/3/2608916/minnesota-vs-minnesota-state-saturday-night-line-combinationsNathan Wells2011-12-02T23:37:29-06:002011-12-02T23:37:29-06:00Haula-ow Victory - Gophers Beat Minnesota State Despite Sluggish Play
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<p>For the first time in a month, the Gophers hockey team has won a Friday night game. It just wasn't pretty.</p>
<p>Minnesota (12-4-1, 9-2-0 WCHA) spent the majority of the first forty minutes stuck in neutral before a third period rally pushed the Gophers ahead of Minnesota State 4-2 in Friday's series opener. Erik Haula scored his ninth goal of the season on the power play 4:51 into the third period to put Minnesota ahead 3-2 and the Gophers never looked back. </p>
<p>"[Friday was] one of those nights where you have have to advantage of chances," Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said. "Some night you have to find a way to win.<span style="line-height: 9px;">"</span></p>
<p>The Mavericks (3-11-1, 2-8-1 WCHA) played much better than their record showed behind the strength of freshman JP Lafontaine and senior goaltender Austin Lee's 26 saves. Although Lee and the Minnesota State defense shut down the Gophers' top line of Kyle Rau, Nick Bjugstad and Zach Budish, the Maroon and Gold were able to buck a recent trend and score first.</p>
<p>Taylor Matson only needed 98 seconds to score his fourth goal of the season from just inside the right circle. Minnesota is 11-1 this season when scoring first, has been an issue in the last three Friday night losses, and controlled most of the first five minutes. However, the Mavericks gained back momentum when a soft shot at the blue line by Evan Mosey somehow found its way past Gophers goaltender Kent Patterson to tie the game at 1.</p>
<p>It was a rare gaffe from the senior goalie, who finished with 26 saves, and one which gave Minnesota State life.</p>
<p>The Mavericks have won five of the last eight games against the Gophers and they showed why in the second period. Other than Nick Larson giving Minnesota a 2-1 lead early in the period, Minnesota State was the better team and out-shot them 11-5.</p>
<p>"You could see early on it was going to be that type of game," Lucia said. "It was tight to the end."</p>
<p>Of course, having troubles in the second period has been a problem for the Gophers throughout their Friday slump and many of the mistakes made were self-inflicted. Minnesota took three penalties in the second period which were bad choices - including Sam Warning tripping a Maverick player in his own offensive zone - and gave the puck away on too many occasions.</p>
<p>After Patterson prevented Minnesota State freshman Max Gaede from scoring on an almost open net early in the period, the Mavericks eventually found their opening 9:28 into the second. With Warning in the box, JP Lafontaine tied the game at 2 right after Zach Palmquist was driven into Patterson and the net. Although the 9,542 fans in Mariucci made their displeasure known, the goal stood after a lengthy review.</p>
<p>It wasn't the only time the fans were upset with the referees, who were showered with boos as they exited, but given the Gophers' play in the second period they were in no position to be helping their cause after forty minutes.</p>
<p>However, Minnesota is as good in the third period as they are bad in the second. They have outscored their opponents 29-7 in the third period this season and Friday was no exception. Whether it is conditioning, patience or taking advantage of opportunities other teams don't, the Gophers know how to finish hockey games.</p>
<p>"We're a good third period team," said sophomore forward Erik Haula.</p>
<p>After surviving an early Minnesota State opportunitity in which Lafontaine shot wide after splitting two defenders on a power play, the Gophers took advantage of their fourth power play. With senior Michael Dorr (a former Gopher before transferring to Minnesota State) shooting high on a shorthanded opportunity, Minnesota came back down the ice where Haula gave the fifth-ranked Gophers the lead. </p>
<p>"On their penalty kill [Minnesota State] takes a lot of chances," Haula said. "It works both ways and creates more room for us."</p>
<p>Jake Hansen added an empty netter goal for Minnesota to complete the third-period surge.</p>
<p>In the end, the Gophers came out of Friday with another hard-fought win and two points to remain on top of the WCHA with a 9-2-0 record. More than that, this team once again turned it on in the third period and won their first game on Friday since November 4th against North Dakota. Stopping that streak was important despite the style; as Haula said, "it kind of looked like a boring game."</p>
<p>It's hard to go that far - although no one will mistake Friday's contest as a classic - but two points ends up counting the same regardless of excitement.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2011/12/2/2607315/haula-ow-victory-gophers-beat-minnesota-state-despite-sluggish-playNathan Wells2011-12-02T19:04:54-06:002011-12-02T19:04:54-06:00Minnesota vs. Minnesota State Friday Night Line Combinations
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<p>Once again, Gophers head coach Don Lucia is sticking with the lines which have worked for most of the season along with senior goalie Kent Patterson in net.</p>
<p>For Minnesota State, senior goalie Austin Lee makes his twelfth start of the season.</p>
<p><strong>Minnesota Golden Gophers Line Combinations</strong><br> <em>Forwards:</em><br> Sam Warning – Erik Haula – Jake Hansen<br> Nate Condon – Taylor Matson – Seth Ambroz<br> Kyle Rau – Nick Bjugstad – Zach Budish<br> Tom Serratore – Travis Boyd – Nick Larson</p>
<p><em>Defense:</em><br> Seth Helgeson – Justin Holl<br> Ben Marshall – Mark Alt<br> Jake Parenteau – Nate Schmidt</p>
<p><em>Goalies (bold indicates starting):</em><br> <strong>Kent Patterson</strong><br> Michael Shibrowski<br> Jake Kremer</p>
<p><strong>Minnesota State Line Combinations:</strong><br> Forwards:<br> J.P Burkemper – Zach Lehrke – Eriah Hayes<br> Adam Mueller – Eli Zuck – Michael Dorr<br> Jean-Paul Lafontaine – Matt Leitner – Max Gaede<br> Johnny McInnis – Justin Jokinen – Corey Leivermann</p>
<p>Defense:<br> Cameron Cooper – Joe Schiller<br> Zach Palmquist – Tyler Elbrecht<br> Evan Mosey – Josh Nelson</p>
<p>Goalies:<br> <strong>Austin Lee</strong><br> Evan Karambelas</p>
<p>Tonight’s game starts at 7:00 PM and airs on Fox Sports North’s <a target="new" href="http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/11/28/11/Friday-Gophers-hockey-on-alternate-chann/landing.html?blockID=614108&feedID=3697">Alternate Channel</a>. As always, you can follow me on Twitter for in-game hockey updates live from Mariucci <a href="http://www.twitter.com/gopherstate" target="_blank">@gopherstate</a> and follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/sbnminnesota" target="_blank">@sbnminnesota</a> for the best in Minnesota sports.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2011/12/2/2606970/minnesota-vs-minnesota-state-friday-night-line-combinationsNathan Wells2011-12-02T17:01:11-06:002011-12-02T17:01:11-06:00Gophers vs. Minnesota State Game Time, TV Schedule, Radio & More
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<p>The 11-4-1 University of Minnesota hockey team returns to WCHA play this weekend against the 3-10-1 Minnesota State University Mavericks in a two game series this weekend at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis. Despite the proximity of Mankato to Minneapolis, the two teams don't share the same rivalry that Minnesota has with other WCHA teams; however the Mavericks have won five of the last eight games in the series.</p>
<p>Both teams are looking to turn things around after disappointing Thanksgiving weekends in which they lost Friday night and tied Saturday. In the Mavericks' case, they were playing Alaska-Anchorage at home while the Gophers were in East Lansing playing the Michigan State Spartans in a non-conference series.</p>
<p>Minnesota enters the weekend ranked fifth in the country in the USCHO.com poll and is fourth in the USA Today poll. Minnesota State is unranked in either poll and sits in the basement of the WCHA with a 2-7-1 conference record while the Gophers remain in first with an 8-2-0 conference record.</p>
<p>Details for this weekend's series are below. Remember that tonight's game is not on the regular Fox Sports North TV station because of the Minnesota Wild playing New Jersey. It is instead on an <a href="http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/11/28/11/Friday-Gophers-hockey-on-alternate-chann/landing.html?blockID=614108&feedID=3697" target="_blank">alternate Fox Sports North</a>channel.</p>
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<b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Location For Both Games:</b> <span style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Mariucci Arena, Minneapolis MN</span><br><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Game #1 Date/Time:</b> <span style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Friday December 2, 7:00 p.m. CST</span><br><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">TV Schedule:</b> <span style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Fox Sports North Alternate Channel (Listings For Alternate Channel <a href="http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/11/28/11/Friday-Gophers-hockey-on-alternate-chann/landing.html?blockID=614108&feedID=3697" target="_blank">Here</a>)</span><br><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Announcers:</b> <span style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Anthony LaPanta and Kevin Gorg</span><br><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Radio:</b> <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www%2C1500espn%2Ccom/"><span style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">ESPN 1500</span><br></a><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"></b>
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<b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Game #2 Date/Time:</b> <span style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Saturday December 3, 7:00 p.m. CST</span><br><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">TV Schedule:</b> <span style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Fox Sports North (Channel Listings <a href="http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/pages/channelfinder/" target="_blank">Here</a>)</span><br><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Announcers:</b> <span style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Anthony LaPanta and Kevin Gorg</span><br><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Radio:</b> <span style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">ESPN 1500</span>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more Gophers coverage, be sure to check out <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.thedailygopher.com/">The Daily Gopher</a>.</i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2011/12/2/2606718/gophers-vs-minnesota-state-game-time-tv-schedule-radio-moreNathan Wells2011-12-02T16:32:31-06:002011-12-02T16:32:31-06:00Gophers Hockey: Minnesota Begins 7 Game Homestand Against Minnesota State
<figure>
<img alt="Senior goalie Kent Patterson (photo courtesy of Paul Rovnak)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FdQwXy9gE-V6t0DoiZ9R32HIHR0=/47x0:952x603/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/558237/fsu7.jpg" />
<figcaption>Senior goalie Kent Patterson (photo courtesy of Paul Rovnak)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For more Gophers coverage, be sure to check out <a href="http://www,thedailygopher.com" target="new">The Daily Gopher</a>.</p> <p>If Thanksgiving has taught us anything, there is nothing better than being surrounded by family and of course, the home cooking and meals. Thanksgiving has come and go but fortunately for the Gophers, they get a little home cooking of their own this weekend.</p>
<p>After completing their first winless weekend of the season against Michigan State, the University of Minnesota hockey team begins a stretch of seven games at Mariucci Arena. In fact, Minnesota (11-4-1, 8-2-0 WCHA) does not play on the road again until January 13th against North Dakota. But for now, the opponent in front of the fifth-ranked Gophers is the Minnesota State Mavericks.</p>
<p>Minnesota State (3-10-1, 2-7-1 WCHA) becomes the third in-state opponent for the Gophers this season. The <strike>Screaming Eagles</strike> Mavericks have struggled so far as injuries and inexperience have taken their toll. Four defensemen have missed a combined 34 games due to injury and sophomore forward Chase Grant (who scored 20 points as a freshman) is out for the season with a hip injury.</p>
<p>All the injuries have meant that several freshmen have gotten opportunities they would not have otherwise. Two freshmen, forwards Jean-Paul Lafontaine (nephew of Pat) and Matt Letiner, lead the Mavericks in points with ten and defenseman Zach Palmquist has been a rock on the blue line. Along with upperclassmen like former Gopher Michael Dorr and goalie Austin Lee, Minnesota State have impact players but they are on a five-game losing streak.</p>
<p>Minnesota is also looking to right their own ship after going 2-3-1 in their last six games. Last weekend saw the Gophers have a multitude of problems which have popped up during this stretch, This includes a slow start Friday, an abysmal second period play (although the Maroon and Gold did score 2 of their 3 second period goals on Saturday) and Kent Patterson being left out to dry by the defense.</p>
<p>In fact, the main reason the Gophers lost on Saturday (not counting the referees) was that for the first time all season Patterson was outplayed by an opposing goalie. While the senior goalie has been on a Hobey-like tear this season, he has had to make plenty of difficult saves all year and last weekend saw Spartans goalie Drew Palmisano be that guy.</p>
<p>There are positives, such as Nick Bjugstad being named the national player of the month for November, but this weekend's series against Minnesota State comes at a good time. With the Mavericks facing injuries and a five-game losing streak, now is a good time for the Gophers to strike; however they would be remiss to forget the fact Minnesota State is 5-2-1 against them in their last eight games.</p>
<p>But returning home for two very winnable games is a recipe Minnesota hopes to enjoy.</p>
<p><i>Minnesota and Minnesota State face off for two games Friday and Saturday at Mariucci Arena. Both games start at 7 PM Central and are broadcast on Fox Sports North, with Friday's game being on </i><a href="http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/11/28/11/Friday-Gophers-hockey-on-alternate-chann/landing.html?blockID=614108&feedID=3697" target="_blank">alternate channels</a><i>. For more Gophers coverage, be sure to check out <a href="http://www.thedailygopher.com" target="_blank">The Daily Gopher</a>.</i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-hockey/2011/12/2/2604564/gophers-hockey-minnesota-begins-7-game-homestand-against-minnesotaNathan Wells