University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, October 30
3M Arena at Mariucci
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
5-3-0, 2-0-0
3
vs
2
Notre Dame
4-3-0, 0-2-0
1
2
3
F
Notre Dame
0
1
1
2
Minnesota
1
0
2
3
Photo by: Matt Krohn
Luck of the Gophers Gives ‘U’ Sweep
10/30/2021 9:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota (5-3-0 overall, 2-0-0-0-0 Big Ten) has now won four-straight games over the Irish.
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 7 Gopher men's hockey program completed a series sweep over No. 14 Notre Dame on Saturday evening, closing the weekend with a 3-2 win at 3M Arena at Mariucci in the first Big Ten Conference action of the year.
Minnesota (5-3-0 overall, 2-0-0-0-0 Big Ten) has now won four-straight games over the Irish (4-3-0, 0-2-0-0-0 Big Ten).
Six Gophers tallied points in the win with goals coming from Grant Cruikshank, Jonny Sorenson and Bryce Brodzinski.
The 'U' improved to 3-0-0 this year when scoring first as Cruikshank found the net for his second of the year at 11:25 of the opening period. Jackson LaCombe set up the first goal while Rhett Pitlick also picked up an assist for his point as a Gopher. The Gophers would hold a lead until the final second of the second period when Grant Silianoff scored for the Irish.
Minnesota bounced back early in the third period when Sorenson scored his first of the season on an unassisted tally at 2:27, but Notre Dame also responded quickly with another equalizer from Solag Bakich at 2:56.
And with three Big Ten points on the line late in the game, the Gophers top goal scorer stepped up for the Maroon & Gold with the game winner as Bryce Brodzinski found the net for the sixth time this season at 17:45 off assists from Blake McLaughlin and Brock Faber.
Jack LaFontaine (5-3-0) added another win to his record book as the defending Mike Richter Award winner made 26 saves on 28 shots in the series finale and finished the weekend with 54 saves on 57 shots.
Notre Dame held a 28-24 advantage on shots while Minnesota was 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and 0-for-1 on the power play.
Coach's Comments
"It was a huge weekend for us…I really feel Jack was great," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "Let's hope that it's another step forward for us in the right direction."
Noteworthy
McLaughlin and Brodzinski have now contributed points in six of Minnesota's eight games this season and are the team's top two point producers this year with 11 and nine, respectively.
Up Next: Border Battle in Madison
Minnesota continues the 2021-22 season next weekend with a two-game Big Ten series against Wisconsin in Madison. The Border Battle begins on Friday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: Bally Sports North PLUS; Stream: BTN+/Bally Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM) with the series finale set for Saturday, Nov. 6 at 8:00 p.m. CT (TV: Bally Sports North PLUS; Stream: BTN+/Bally Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM). Both games will be played at the Kohl Center.
Minnesota (5-3-0 overall, 2-0-0-0-0 Big Ten) has now won four-straight games over the Irish (4-3-0, 0-2-0-0-0 Big Ten).
Six Gophers tallied points in the win with goals coming from Grant Cruikshank, Jonny Sorenson and Bryce Brodzinski.
The 'U' improved to 3-0-0 this year when scoring first as Cruikshank found the net for his second of the year at 11:25 of the opening period. Jackson LaCombe set up the first goal while Rhett Pitlick also picked up an assist for his point as a Gopher. The Gophers would hold a lead until the final second of the second period when Grant Silianoff scored for the Irish.
Minnesota bounced back early in the third period when Sorenson scored his first of the season on an unassisted tally at 2:27, but Notre Dame also responded quickly with another equalizer from Solag Bakich at 2:56.
And with three Big Ten points on the line late in the game, the Gophers top goal scorer stepped up for the Maroon & Gold with the game winner as Bryce Brodzinski found the net for the sixth time this season at 17:45 off assists from Blake McLaughlin and Brock Faber.
Jack LaFontaine (5-3-0) added another win to his record book as the defending Mike Richter Award winner made 26 saves on 28 shots in the series finale and finished the weekend with 54 saves on 57 shots.
Notre Dame held a 28-24 advantage on shots while Minnesota was 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and 0-for-1 on the power play.
Coach's Comments
"It was a huge weekend for us…I really feel Jack was great," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "Let's hope that it's another step forward for us in the right direction."
Noteworthy
McLaughlin and Brodzinski have now contributed points in six of Minnesota's eight games this season and are the team's top two point producers this year with 11 and nine, respectively.
Up Next: Border Battle in Madison
Minnesota continues the 2021-22 season next weekend with a two-game Big Ten series against Wisconsin in Madison. The Border Battle begins on Friday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: Bally Sports North PLUS; Stream: BTN+/Bally Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM) with the series finale set for Saturday, Nov. 6 at 8:00 p.m. CT (TV: Bally Sports North PLUS; Stream: BTN+/Bally Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM). Both games will be played at the Kohl Center.
Team Stats
UND
MIN
Shots
28
24
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
1
3
Penalty Mins
2
6
Faceoffs Won
24
22
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
2
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
Players Mentioned
Forward
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Defense
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Goaltender
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Forward
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Forward
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