University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 1
3M Arena at Mariucci
7:30 PM
University of Minnesota
20-8-5, 13-6-4
6
vs
2
Michigan
17-13-3, 10-11-2
1
2
3
F
Michigan
2
0
0
2
Minnesota
2
3
1
6
Team Stats
MIC
MIN
Shots
21
29
PPG
0
3
SHG
0
0
Penalties
5
1
Penalty Mins
10
2
Faceoffs Won
28
28
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
2
Goals
3
Sh
4
A
0
+/-
2
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
3
+/-
-1
Goals
2
Sh
4
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's HockeyDefense
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Matt Krohn
Nelson's Hat Trick Drives Gophers to Dominating Win over Wolverines
3/1/2024 11:30:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Multi-goal outings from Nelson and Moore
MINNEAPOLIS - Jaxon Nelson's first collegiate hat trick helped drive the No. 8 Minnesota men's hockey team to a dominating, 6-2 victory over No. 16 Michigan Friday night from 3M Arena at Mariucci.
The Golden Gophers (20-8-5 overall, 13-6-4 B1G) scored three power-play goals during the second period, including two from Oliver Moore, to break a 2-2 tie and handed the Wolverines (17-13-3 overall, 10-11-2 B1G) the loss with the game's final four goals. Minnesota's eighth-straight home victory clinched the No. 3 seed for the upcoming Big Ten Conference Tournament after holding the nation's third-highest scoring offense to just 21 shots on goal.
It was the visitors that struck first at the 4:11 mark of the opening period after a shot deflected off two Minnesota defenders before finding the back of the net. The Maroon and Gold responded with a strong push at the other end of the ice and drew a man advantage that was negated via a penalty of its own. After both teams returned to full strength, Luke Mittelstadt buried a rebound to pull the Gophers even, 1-1, with 7:32 remaining in the frame and a video challenge confirmed the goal. Bryce Brodzinski started the play with a pass to the middle of the ice and Nelson created havoc in the crease.
That veteran line stayed on the attack and gave Minnesota a 2-1 edge less than three minutes later as Nelson backhanded a shot through the Michigan goalie's pads following a feed from Mason Nevers. The Wolverines answered with an unassisted goal, capitalizing on a defensive zone turnover in the final minute of the period, and the teams went back to the locker room tied 2-2.
It was a battle for space beginning the middle stanza and neither side generated much offense until the Gophers went to a power play seven minutes into the period. Moore was rewarded from a sharp angle as the freshman whipped home the go-ahead tally from the bottom of the right circle. Minnesota appeared to extend its advantage at the 12:53 mark as Nelson scored, but was pushed into the Michigan netminder, forcing the goal to be wiped off the scoreboard. The home side challenged, and the call stood to remain a one-goal cushion.
The Maroon and Gold were undeterred by the call and went to another 5-on-4 opportunity late in the second period. This time, Nelson made no doubt, burying an odd-angle rebound after Sam Rinzel's initial shot was blocked. A minute later, the Wolverines were assessed a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct and Moore made them pay with his second goal as the clock read 2:53, tapping home a loose puck near the right post and the margin swelled to 5-2 through two periods.
Michigan turned to its backup goalie for the final frame and the action went back and forth with the defense holding firm. Nelson completed the hat trick at the 10:51 mark of the third period as he skated right past the Wolverines defenseman and wired a wrister home. Minnesota cruised to the finish and closed out their eighth-straight home win.
Justen Close stopped all 13 shots he faced over the final two periods, allowing the Gophers offense to take over, and the graduate student recorded his 59th all-time victory by making 19 saves.
Noteworthy
Nelson set a career high in goals behind his first collegiate hat trick, the third for Minnesota this season, and became the eighth Gopher to record at least 20 points in 2023-24 ... The graduate student also won a game-high 10 faceoffs Friday, proving dominant in all facets ... Moore finished with the second multi-goal effort of his young career and now has nine goals, including two game winners, and 31 points this year ... Brodzinski tallied his third outing with three points during a career-best, three-assist night and tied his career high of 31 points set a year ago ... Nevers picked up a primary assist and increased his point total to 12 via his ninth helper ... Mittelstadt scored his first goal of the season and snapped a 32-game drought without a marker dating back to the NCAA Frozen Four when he had two goals against Boston ... Rinzel tallied the 25th assist of his freshman season to pace the team and is fourth in the NCAA for assists by a rookie ... Rhett Pitlick extended his team-leading scoring total to 33 with an assist, while Mike Koster added his 10th assist and has 12 points for the Gophers ... Close tied Eric Schierhorn for sixth in program history with his 59th career win and is unbeaten in seven of his last eight contests ... Minnesota won its 20th game of the season and has 20 or more wins in four-consecutive campaigns and 41 of the last 51 years ... After going scoreless on the power play for 15 chances across eight games, the Gophers responded in a big way Friday night going 3-for-5, the six time this year with multiple goals on the man advantage.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"We turned two pucks over in the first period and had a little rust. That's how (Michigan) got their two goals," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "After that, we were pretty dialed in throughout our lineup. Good solid defense, good solid goaltending; power play ends up being the difference tonight."
Next Up: Home vs. Michigan (Mar. 2)
Minnesota plays its final regular season contest of 2023-24 Saturday night live on Big Ten Network at 7:30 p.m. The Gophers will honor their 1974 NCAA national championship team during a special 50th anniversary celebration as well as their four-player senior class postgame.
The Golden Gophers (20-8-5 overall, 13-6-4 B1G) scored three power-play goals during the second period, including two from Oliver Moore, to break a 2-2 tie and handed the Wolverines (17-13-3 overall, 10-11-2 B1G) the loss with the game's final four goals. Minnesota's eighth-straight home victory clinched the No. 3 seed for the upcoming Big Ten Conference Tournament after holding the nation's third-highest scoring offense to just 21 shots on goal.
It was the visitors that struck first at the 4:11 mark of the opening period after a shot deflected off two Minnesota defenders before finding the back of the net. The Maroon and Gold responded with a strong push at the other end of the ice and drew a man advantage that was negated via a penalty of its own. After both teams returned to full strength, Luke Mittelstadt buried a rebound to pull the Gophers even, 1-1, with 7:32 remaining in the frame and a video challenge confirmed the goal. Bryce Brodzinski started the play with a pass to the middle of the ice and Nelson created havoc in the crease.
That veteran line stayed on the attack and gave Minnesota a 2-1 edge less than three minutes later as Nelson backhanded a shot through the Michigan goalie's pads following a feed from Mason Nevers. The Wolverines answered with an unassisted goal, capitalizing on a defensive zone turnover in the final minute of the period, and the teams went back to the locker room tied 2-2.
It was a battle for space beginning the middle stanza and neither side generated much offense until the Gophers went to a power play seven minutes into the period. Moore was rewarded from a sharp angle as the freshman whipped home the go-ahead tally from the bottom of the right circle. Minnesota appeared to extend its advantage at the 12:53 mark as Nelson scored, but was pushed into the Michigan netminder, forcing the goal to be wiped off the scoreboard. The home side challenged, and the call stood to remain a one-goal cushion.
The Maroon and Gold were undeterred by the call and went to another 5-on-4 opportunity late in the second period. This time, Nelson made no doubt, burying an odd-angle rebound after Sam Rinzel's initial shot was blocked. A minute later, the Wolverines were assessed a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct and Moore made them pay with his second goal as the clock read 2:53, tapping home a loose puck near the right post and the margin swelled to 5-2 through two periods.
Michigan turned to its backup goalie for the final frame and the action went back and forth with the defense holding firm. Nelson completed the hat trick at the 10:51 mark of the third period as he skated right past the Wolverines defenseman and wired a wrister home. Minnesota cruised to the finish and closed out their eighth-straight home win.
Justen Close stopped all 13 shots he faced over the final two periods, allowing the Gophers offense to take over, and the graduate student recorded his 59th all-time victory by making 19 saves.
Noteworthy
Nelson set a career high in goals behind his first collegiate hat trick, the third for Minnesota this season, and became the eighth Gopher to record at least 20 points in 2023-24 ... The graduate student also won a game-high 10 faceoffs Friday, proving dominant in all facets ... Moore finished with the second multi-goal effort of his young career and now has nine goals, including two game winners, and 31 points this year ... Brodzinski tallied his third outing with three points during a career-best, three-assist night and tied his career high of 31 points set a year ago ... Nevers picked up a primary assist and increased his point total to 12 via his ninth helper ... Mittelstadt scored his first goal of the season and snapped a 32-game drought without a marker dating back to the NCAA Frozen Four when he had two goals against Boston ... Rinzel tallied the 25th assist of his freshman season to pace the team and is fourth in the NCAA for assists by a rookie ... Rhett Pitlick extended his team-leading scoring total to 33 with an assist, while Mike Koster added his 10th assist and has 12 points for the Gophers ... Close tied Eric Schierhorn for sixth in program history with his 59th career win and is unbeaten in seven of his last eight contests ... Minnesota won its 20th game of the season and has 20 or more wins in four-consecutive campaigns and 41 of the last 51 years ... After going scoreless on the power play for 15 chances across eight games, the Gophers responded in a big way Friday night going 3-for-5, the six time this year with multiple goals on the man advantage.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"We turned two pucks over in the first period and had a little rust. That's how (Michigan) got their two goals," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "After that, we were pretty dialed in throughout our lineup. Good solid defense, good solid goaltending; power play ends up being the difference tonight."
Next Up: Home vs. Michigan (Mar. 2)
Minnesota plays its final regular season contest of 2023-24 Saturday night live on Big Ten Network at 7:30 p.m. The Gophers will honor their 1974 NCAA national championship team during a special 50th anniversary celebration as well as their four-player senior class postgame.
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