University of Minnesota Athletics
Rinkside: Finding the Net
12/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
By Jackson Riebel
MINNEAPOLIS -No. 7 Gopher Hockey program is set for the first installment of this season's Border Battle, playing host to No. 14 Wisconsin in a Big Ten Conference series this weekend. The Badgers arrive in town fresh off a two-game split with Mercyhurst in Madison last weekend.
Finding the Net
Minnesota's offense recorded at least 40 shots on goal in each of the last three games, but walked away with only one victory to show for it. In last weekend's series at Notre Dame, the Gophers outshot the Fighting Irish 44-23 and 42-35 across two games, but were unable to find the net during five-on-five play.
"I liked so many things about our game. I think that was the disappointing and frustrating part, that five of the six periods last weekend we played well and probably deserved better," Head Coach Don Lucia commented Wednesday. "We generated a lot of chances, now it's just time to find a way to get some of those in the back of the net. We need to get into bloody nose alley a little bit more. A few more second chance opportunities will be important for us."
"Notre Dame was obviously a really good team, they had a strong defensive core. They were eliminating second chances, so we just have to be a little hungrier," added sophomore forward Rem Pitlick. "That's what the coaches have been stressing this week. We've been battling in practice, focusing on getting those loose pucks. Hopefully it translates into this weekend."
Despite last weekend's struggles, Pitlick is confident in the team's ability to get things back on track in a crucial home series against the rival Badgers.
"That's kind of what a hockey season is about, there's ups and downs. I think that was a low, and now there's only one direction to go, and that's up. I think we're all ready to go this weekend, and it's not going to be an issue."
Hayton Stepping In For Wisconsin
Goaltender Kyle Hayton provided the Wisconsin roster with a big boost this offseason, joining the Badgers as a graduate transfer from St. Lawrence University. Junior forward Jack Ramsey was one of many Gophers who got a chance to see Hayton last October while playing St. Lawrence to a 2-2 overtime draw in Canton, New York.
"He was good, he stopped a lot of shots. I think we put up like forty-something on him, and didn't score until we had the goalie pulled in the last minute or so," Ramsey recalled. "I think he comes out of the net pretty far, so hopefully we can get the puck on the ice, get some rebounds and try to crash the net."
In his final season with St. Lawrence, Hayton was named the ECAC Goaltender of the Year and was a second team All-American thanks to a .929 save percentage and five shutouts in 35 starts. He's the latest addition to a growing list of quality goaltenders Minnesota has seen this season, and Ramsey wouldn't have it any other way.
"I think it's good that we've been facing a good string of goalies. It prepares us for the end of the year when you're playing the top teams with the best goalies."
