University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, February 10
3M Arena at Mariucci
3:00 PM
University of Minnesota
18-7-5, 11-5-4
3
vs
0
Penn State
12-13-3, 4-11-3
1
2
3
F
Penn State
0
0
0
0
Minnesota
0
2
1
3
Team Stats
PSU
MIN
Shots
30
33
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
2
2
Penalty Mins
4
4
Faceoffs Won
24
23
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
2
Goals
2
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Bjorn Franke
Close Secures Weekend Shutout of Nittany Lions
2/10/2024 7:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Tied a school record with his 13th-career shutout
MINNEAPOLIS - Justen Close tied a Minnesota men's hockey record with the 13th shutout of his career as the No. 8/9 Golden Gophers shut down Penn State, 3-0, Saturday afternoon inside 3M Arena at Mariucci. Aaron Huglen scored twice in a three-minute span for the Maroon and Gold on the way to their seventh-straight home victory.
Close turned away all 30 shots faced, leading the Gophers (18-7-5 overall, 11-5-4 B1G) to a weekend sweep of the Nittany Lions (12-13-3 overall, 4-11-3 B1G) and extended his shutout streak to 179 minutes and six seconds. It was the first time in program history where PSU was held off the scoreboard in back-to-back outings.
The visitors made a strong push to begin the matinee, firing the game's first five shots, and brought a physical edge that extended past the whistle. The pace continued to climb as both sides fought for space on the ice until Ryan Chesley was tripped, drawing a power play 13 minutes into the action. Oliver Moore slipped behind the PSU defense and nearly got the opening tally during the man advantage before Close delivered a timely save at the opposite end following a Minnesota turnover. Close stopped three more shots from the Nittany Lions and the first period ended scoreless.
The start of the second stanza belonged to the Gophers as they struck for a 1-0 advantage 72 seconds after the puck was dropped. Huglen worked a perfect give-and-go with Brody Lamb and finished off the shot from his off wing on a 2-on-1 break. The Nittany Lions responded immediately and rang a shot off the post during a delayed penalty call and went to their first power play.
The Maroon and Gold promptly erased the man advantage and went back to the attack where Huglen buried his second goal in a span of 3:22. Rhett Pitlick fired across a perfect pass and the junior one-timed a shot past the PSU netminder from the left circle. That line maintained pressure and both Huglen and Lamb had chances to extend the margin but the goalies on both ends of the rink turned away each chance. The Gophers carried their two-goal cushion into the locker room at intermission.
It was back-and-forth action to begin the third period with a majority of play taking place in the neutral zone. The visitors earned their second power play of the night at the 9:04 mark and thanks to Minnesota's shot-blocking efforts and goaltending, killed off the opportunity. PSU put its second shot off the post before the media timeout as it pushed for an answer to Close. Mason Nevers tacked on an unassisted, insurance tally with 5:06 remaining in regulation where his tenacious play on the forecheck led to the goal after stealing the puck from a Nittany Lion defenseman.
Even with PSU's net empty for an extra attacker over the final 2:13 of the game, the weekend belonged to the Kindersley, Saskatchewan, native and Close finished off the shutout, 3-0, making 30 saves.
Noteworthy
Close stopped all 66 shots he faced over the weekend, registering consecutive shutouts for the third time in his career and second time this season ... The graduate student tied Kellen Briggs (2003-07) and Adam Wilcox (2012-15) atop Minnesota's all-time shutout list with his 13th ... Huglen recorded the first multi-goal performance of his career and has a goal in five of his last nine games played, with all five goals coming in the second game of a weekend series ... Lamb picked up his 10th assist and 21st point of 2023-24, while Connor Kurth posted his 13th helper and now has 19 points ... Pitlick became the sixth active Gopher to reach 100 career games played when he took the ice Saturday and tallied his team-best 32nd point of the year on an assist ... Bryce Brodzinski moved to 28 points on the year, 17 of which have come during a series finale, thanks to his 15th assist ... After having a goal disallowed in back-to-back weekends, Nevers broke through and put his third goal of the year on the board ... The weekend's series attendance of 21,310 broke the 3M Arena at Mariucci all-time record after a 10,560-sellout crowd entered Saturday ... It was the fifth sellout for Minnesota this season.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"Our guys were dialed in tonight," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "Great for Justen Close. There's no more I can say about that kid, he just continues to be fantastic for us."
Next Up: Away at Notre Dame (Feb. 16-17)
The Gophers hit the road for the final time during the 2023-24 regular season when they head east to face the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame Feb. 16-17. Fans can watch both games live via Peacock or listen to Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco for free on the Gopher Radio Network 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM.
Close turned away all 30 shots faced, leading the Gophers (18-7-5 overall, 11-5-4 B1G) to a weekend sweep of the Nittany Lions (12-13-3 overall, 4-11-3 B1G) and extended his shutout streak to 179 minutes and six seconds. It was the first time in program history where PSU was held off the scoreboard in back-to-back outings.
The visitors made a strong push to begin the matinee, firing the game's first five shots, and brought a physical edge that extended past the whistle. The pace continued to climb as both sides fought for space on the ice until Ryan Chesley was tripped, drawing a power play 13 minutes into the action. Oliver Moore slipped behind the PSU defense and nearly got the opening tally during the man advantage before Close delivered a timely save at the opposite end following a Minnesota turnover. Close stopped three more shots from the Nittany Lions and the first period ended scoreless.
The start of the second stanza belonged to the Gophers as they struck for a 1-0 advantage 72 seconds after the puck was dropped. Huglen worked a perfect give-and-go with Brody Lamb and finished off the shot from his off wing on a 2-on-1 break. The Nittany Lions responded immediately and rang a shot off the post during a delayed penalty call and went to their first power play.
The Maroon and Gold promptly erased the man advantage and went back to the attack where Huglen buried his second goal in a span of 3:22. Rhett Pitlick fired across a perfect pass and the junior one-timed a shot past the PSU netminder from the left circle. That line maintained pressure and both Huglen and Lamb had chances to extend the margin but the goalies on both ends of the rink turned away each chance. The Gophers carried their two-goal cushion into the locker room at intermission.
It was back-and-forth action to begin the third period with a majority of play taking place in the neutral zone. The visitors earned their second power play of the night at the 9:04 mark and thanks to Minnesota's shot-blocking efforts and goaltending, killed off the opportunity. PSU put its second shot off the post before the media timeout as it pushed for an answer to Close. Mason Nevers tacked on an unassisted, insurance tally with 5:06 remaining in regulation where his tenacious play on the forecheck led to the goal after stealing the puck from a Nittany Lion defenseman.
Even with PSU's net empty for an extra attacker over the final 2:13 of the game, the weekend belonged to the Kindersley, Saskatchewan, native and Close finished off the shutout, 3-0, making 30 saves.
Noteworthy
Close stopped all 66 shots he faced over the weekend, registering consecutive shutouts for the third time in his career and second time this season ... The graduate student tied Kellen Briggs (2003-07) and Adam Wilcox (2012-15) atop Minnesota's all-time shutout list with his 13th ... Huglen recorded the first multi-goal performance of his career and has a goal in five of his last nine games played, with all five goals coming in the second game of a weekend series ... Lamb picked up his 10th assist and 21st point of 2023-24, while Connor Kurth posted his 13th helper and now has 19 points ... Pitlick became the sixth active Gopher to reach 100 career games played when he took the ice Saturday and tallied his team-best 32nd point of the year on an assist ... Bryce Brodzinski moved to 28 points on the year, 17 of which have come during a series finale, thanks to his 15th assist ... After having a goal disallowed in back-to-back weekends, Nevers broke through and put his third goal of the year on the board ... The weekend's series attendance of 21,310 broke the 3M Arena at Mariucci all-time record after a 10,560-sellout crowd entered Saturday ... It was the fifth sellout for Minnesota this season.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"Our guys were dialed in tonight," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "Great for Justen Close. There's no more I can say about that kid, he just continues to be fantastic for us."
Next Up: Away at Notre Dame (Feb. 16-17)
The Gophers hit the road for the final time during the 2023-24 regular season when they head east to face the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame Feb. 16-17. Fans can watch both games live via Peacock or listen to Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco for free on the Gopher Radio Network 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM.
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