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Pride on Ice Preview: Gophers Seeking Revenge Against Michigan
By Grant Erickson and Travis Erickson
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/478071?referrer_id=388419
Coming off a sweep over Ohio State, the Gophers are looking to continue their climb toward the top of the Big Ten standings as the Michigan Wolverines come to town. After getting swept in Ann Arbor earlier this year, the surging Gophers are eager for another chance at the take on their conference rivals.
“We’ve said many times, this is a week-by-week deal,” said Don Lucia. “It’s great that we won a couple games but it really doesn’t change our preparation as we get ready for Michigan.”
PREGAME NOTES
No. 12 Michigan (16-8-0 overall, 8-2-0 Big Ten) vs. Minnesota (14-9-3 overall, 5-2-3 Big Ten)
Friday, 8:10 p.m. CT on BTN – Mariucci Arena (10,000)
Saturday, 7:05 p.m. CT on FSN Plus – Mariucci Arena
Chasing the Wolverines
With 10 games played in the conference schedule, Michigan is on top of the standings with 24 points while the Gophers sit in third with 18. A sweep over the Wolverines this weekend would create a tie atop the Big Ten.
“Huge weekend for us,” said Travis Boyd. “If we can get two wins like we did last weekend, we’ll be tied for first and I think we’d have the tiebreaker over them. But there’s still a long way to go. Either way it’s about coming out and trying to get two wins again. Michigan’s a good team and it’s going to be a good test for us.”
The Gophers know that the conference schedule is only half done, which makes for plenty of time to catch Michigan if they can make up ground this weekend.
“We’ve got 10 games left,” said Lucia. “We did what we wanted to do last weekend, we won a couple home games…We’ve got 50 percent of the Big Ten season to go. We’ve just got to continue to win games. We have a tall order against Michigan who’s only lost a couple games in the last few months.”
Last Meeting
When the two teams met just over a month ago, it couldn’t have gone much worse for the Gophers. In the first game, Minnesota took a third period lead but was unable to hold on as the Wolverines scored with under seven minutes to go. Michigan would go on to tally the winner in overtime, sinking the Gophers’ hope of picking up points in Friday’s matchup. Saturday didn’t go much better as Minnesota’s defense and goaltending were almost nonexistent in a 7-5 loss.
The Gophers look back at how crucial that heartbreaking series was to the current standings.
“You look back to that weekend and it was probably the most disappointing to lose that overtime game,” said Lucia. “You hold onto a lead in that game and we’re tied with them in the standings right now. That’s how big that game was. They held serve at home, now we have the opportunity to do the same this weekend.”
Minnesota’s players are eager to test themselves after getting swept in Ann Arbor.
“I think we owe them a little bit of revenge for when we went to Ann Arbor,” said Boyd. “Big weekend for us and we’ve got to make sure we come ready to play.”
Since Then
Since the sweep at home of then No. 9 Minnesota, the Wolverines have picked up four victories in five chances against Big Ten opponents. During that five-game stretch, the Wolverine offense has exploded; averaging 5.8 goals per game. Leading the way is senior forward Zach Hyman. Gopher fans will probably remember the name because he torched the Gophers for a six-point weekend last month. He hasn’t slowed down much either. He’s notched 10 points, including five goals, in five games since the two teams last met.
Defending Michigan
Minnesota has played well in their last two series; a sweep over Ohio State and a win and tie against Wisconsin. Part of the reason for the success has been the improved defensive performance, something that will be needed against a Michigan team that leads the nation with 4.21 goals per game.
“For me, it’s more the defensive area of the game that I was happy; giving up two goals each night,” said Lucia. “…More than anything, we’ve got to prevent goals. Adam [Wilcox] gave up two each night, that’s more of what we need from him. We didn’t give up many chances or shots on goal. We’re not going to outscore Michigan, we have to out-defend them.”
The Wolverines’ speed up front has the potential to cause problems for the Gophers.
“They’re a fast team,” said Boyd. “If we’re not smart with the puck, if we don’t manage the puck, they’ll counter-attack and be at our net in three or four seconds so we’ve got to be smart with the puck.”
Limiting mistakes and not allowing Michigan many chances on the rush will be a key for the Minnesota defensemen.
“We can’t shorten the rink for them,” said Lucia. “That’s one of the things that hurt us in Ann Arbor. We had far too many turnovers between the blue line and the top of the circles and they’re such a good transition team with tremendous speed they’re going to make you pay and they did that weekend.”
By Grant Erickson and Travis Erickson
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/478071?referrer_id=388419
Coming off a sweep over Ohio State, the Gophers are looking to continue their climb toward the top of the Big Ten standings as the Michigan Wolverines come to town. After getting swept in Ann Arbor earlier this year, the surging Gophers are eager for another chance at the take on their conference rivals.
“We’ve said many times, this is a week-by-week deal,” said Don Lucia. “It’s great that we won a couple games but it really doesn’t change our preparation as we get ready for Michigan.”
PREGAME NOTES
No. 12 Michigan (16-8-0 overall, 8-2-0 Big Ten) vs. Minnesota (14-9-3 overall, 5-2-3 Big Ten)
Friday, 8:10 p.m. CT on BTN – Mariucci Arena (10,000)
Saturday, 7:05 p.m. CT on FSN Plus – Mariucci Arena
Chasing the Wolverines
With 10 games played in the conference schedule, Michigan is on top of the standings with 24 points while the Gophers sit in third with 18. A sweep over the Wolverines this weekend would create a tie atop the Big Ten.
“Huge weekend for us,” said Travis Boyd. “If we can get two wins like we did last weekend, we’ll be tied for first and I think we’d have the tiebreaker over them. But there’s still a long way to go. Either way it’s about coming out and trying to get two wins again. Michigan’s a good team and it’s going to be a good test for us.”
The Gophers know that the conference schedule is only half done, which makes for plenty of time to catch Michigan if they can make up ground this weekend.
“We’ve got 10 games left,” said Lucia. “We did what we wanted to do last weekend, we won a couple home games…We’ve got 50 percent of the Big Ten season to go. We’ve just got to continue to win games. We have a tall order against Michigan who’s only lost a couple games in the last few months.”
Last Meeting
When the two teams met just over a month ago, it couldn’t have gone much worse for the Gophers. In the first game, Minnesota took a third period lead but was unable to hold on as the Wolverines scored with under seven minutes to go. Michigan would go on to tally the winner in overtime, sinking the Gophers’ hope of picking up points in Friday’s matchup. Saturday didn’t go much better as Minnesota’s defense and goaltending were almost nonexistent in a 7-5 loss.
The Gophers look back at how crucial that heartbreaking series was to the current standings.
“You look back to that weekend and it was probably the most disappointing to lose that overtime game,” said Lucia. “You hold onto a lead in that game and we’re tied with them in the standings right now. That’s how big that game was. They held serve at home, now we have the opportunity to do the same this weekend.”
Minnesota’s players are eager to test themselves after getting swept in Ann Arbor.
“I think we owe them a little bit of revenge for when we went to Ann Arbor,” said Boyd. “Big weekend for us and we’ve got to make sure we come ready to play.”
Since Then
Since the sweep at home of then No. 9 Minnesota, the Wolverines have picked up four victories in five chances against Big Ten opponents. During that five-game stretch, the Wolverine offense has exploded; averaging 5.8 goals per game. Leading the way is senior forward Zach Hyman. Gopher fans will probably remember the name because he torched the Gophers for a six-point weekend last month. He hasn’t slowed down much either. He’s notched 10 points, including five goals, in five games since the two teams last met.
Defending Michigan
Minnesota has played well in their last two series; a sweep over Ohio State and a win and tie against Wisconsin. Part of the reason for the success has been the improved defensive performance, something that will be needed against a Michigan team that leads the nation with 4.21 goals per game.
“For me, it’s more the defensive area of the game that I was happy; giving up two goals each night,” said Lucia. “…More than anything, we’ve got to prevent goals. Adam [Wilcox] gave up two each night, that’s more of what we need from him. We didn’t give up many chances or shots on goal. We’re not going to outscore Michigan, we have to out-defend them.”
The Wolverines’ speed up front has the potential to cause problems for the Gophers.
“They’re a fast team,” said Boyd. “If we’re not smart with the puck, if we don’t manage the puck, they’ll counter-attack and be at our net in three or four seconds so we’ve got to be smart with the puck.”
Limiting mistakes and not allowing Michigan many chances on the rush will be a key for the Minnesota defensemen.
“We can’t shorten the rink for them,” said Lucia. “That’s one of the things that hurt us in Ann Arbor. We had far too many turnovers between the blue line and the top of the circles and they’re such a good transition team with tremendous speed they’re going to make you pay and they did that weekend.”
