What has been one of the most disappointing Minnesota Golden Gopher hockey seasons in memory is nearly over. Minnesota hosts #2 Michigan State at 3M Arena at Mariucci this Thursday and Friday in the final regular season series of the season. But there is still plenty on both sides to play for. Michigan State enters the weekend just two points back of in-state rival Michigan in the Big Ten standings—with the Wolverines regular season over. The Spartans need just three points over the Gophers to win
the title outright for the third consecutive season. Minnesota will look to try to keep a team from winning the title against them as they did against the Wolverines a week ago, and also remains in a fight with Ohio State for 5th place in the Big Ten and a Big Ten quarterfinal matchup at Wisconsin rather than a trip to Penn State.
Last weekend the Gophers kept the Wolverines from having a chance to clinch the Big Ten title with a 4-2 win on Friday night. Brodie Ziemer continued his fantastic sophomore season scoring twice and adding an assist. He leads the Gophers in scoring with 34 points in 33 games, while his 11 power-play goals are the most in the country. Minnesota got amazing goaltending from Luca DiPasquo in goal who made 37 saves in the upset win over the Wolverines. He has been a bright spot for this team down the stretch.
Michigan State will look to bounce back from a subpar weekend against Ohio State last weekend to claim their third consecutive regular season Big Ten title this weekend. The Spartans dropped the opener to the Buckeyes 5-1 before picking up an extra point in the shootout in a 3-3 tie on Saturday. The shootout went 13 rounds and is believed to be the 3rd longest shootout in NCAA DI hockey and the longest in Big Ten history. Yet they enter this weekend trailing the Wolverines by just two points with two games in hand. The Spartans own the tiebreaker against Michigan as well, so even two points will give them the opening round bye in the Big Ten Tournament directly to next Saturday’s Semifinal.
The Spartans have been led by their talented top line. Daniel Russell , Charlie Stramel and Porter Martone have generated 121 points this season on 50 goals and 71 assists, and are a combined +83 on the ice. Martone (43 points) and Stramel (41 points) mark the first time MSU has produced multiple 40 point scorers in a single season since 2007-08, and if Russel; can get three points this weekend will give the Spartans three 40 point scorers since 2002-03. Then of course Trey Augustine in goal has been the other equalizer for MSU. He enters the weekend ranked #9 in goals against average (2.09) and #7 in save percentage (.929).
Minnesota will honor their five seniors on Friday night after the final game. Brody Lamb has had a great senior season ranking second on the team with a career-best 30 points on 14 goals and 16 assists. Luke Mittelstadt has also impressed in his final season as a Gopher putting up 21 points, while playing nearly 27 minutes per game. He ranks second for the Gophers with 19 assists, leading the B1G blue liners and 11th among all NCAA defensemen. John Mittelstadt has a goal and three assists mainly working a gridning role on the Gophers fourth line this seas. He brings grit and effort every night. Cal Thomas has a goal and four assists this season where he has struggled at times on the Gopher blue line. Zach Wiese wraps up his time as the Gophers third goalie.
Minnesota despite their subpar record does have something to play for this weekend. They come in trailing Ohio State by two points for 5th place in the Big Ten standings. While both teams are guaranteed to hit the road for their Big Ten Quarterfinal games next Wednesday, the 5th place team will head to Wisconsin while the 6th place team will head to Penn State. Unfortunately for Minnesota, the Buckeyes will host last place Notre Dame this weekend giving them the definite edge in taking the 5th place spot.
The Gophers will also honor the 50th anniversary of the 1976 NCAA Championship team during Friday’s game. Faceoff both nights is set for 7 PM. Thursday’s game will air on Fox 9, and Friday’s will air on Fox9+ with both games streaming on B1G+.
