Wolverines Head to Minnesota for Big Ten Weekend Clash

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The University of Michigan ice hockey team (9-10-6, 5-6-4-2 Big Ten) continues conference play this weekend (Feb. 1-2) as it travels to Minneapolis to take on Minnesota (10-11-4, 7-6-3-0 Big Ten).

The Minnesota Series

Michigan and Minnesota will meet for the 280th time since 1923, with the Golden Gophers holding a 137-125-17 record in the all-time series with the Wolverines. The teams first met on Jan. 23, 1923, when Michigan fell to Minnesota, 2-0. Minnesota is U-M's second-oldest opponent, trailing only Wisconsin. In Minneapolis, U-M holds a 47-78-8 all-time record against Minnesota, winning both games there last season (Jan.12-13, 2018).

Last season, the Wolverines earned their first sweep of Minnesota since the 2014-15 season, and the first road sweep of the Gophers since the 1976-77 season.

Additionally, Michigan claimed the Mariucci/Renfrew Trophy for the first time since the 2008-09 season. The trophy was created in 1993 as an award for the winner of the annual Michigan-Minnesota game or series. The trophy is named after legendary coaches John Mariucci of Minnesota and Al Renfrew of Michigan. U-M has won the trophy 10 of the 23 times it has been awarded.

The teams last met Dec. 7-8, 2018, on Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena and split the weekend series. U-M scored in double overtime to claim the extra Big Ten point, despite playing to a 2-2 tie. The following evening, after a Michigan goal was overturned with minutes left in the third period, the Gophers scored with 1:41 left in regulation to take a 4-3 win and split the series.

Scouting the Golden Gophers

The Golden Gophers are led by first-year head coach Bob Motzko, who spent the last 13 seasons behind the bench at St.Cloud State. While coaching the Huskies, Motzko went to eight NCAA tournaments, including a Frozen Four appearance in 2013.

Minnesota was picked to finish fourth this season in the Big Ten preseason poll. Minnesota enters its trip to Ann Arbor this weekend after splitting a series against Wisconsin last week. The Gophers won Friday night's (Jan. 25) matchup, 9-4, but fell to the Badgers on Saturday (Jan. 26), 4-3. Minnesota is 10-11-4 (7-6-3-0 Big Ten) this season.

Leading Minnesota

Minnesota's Rem Pitlick leads the team with 15 goals and 13 assists for a total of 29 points. Senior captain, Tyler Sheehy follows with 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists).

Sheehy and Pitlick have now each recorded points in 15 of Minnesota's last 16 games. Sheehy recorded seven points (G, 6A) in the series against Wisconsin last weekend and is the Gophers' active leading scorer with 135 points (51G, 84A) in 136 games.

In net, junior Mat Robson has played in 20 games, sporting a 2.77 goals-against average and .922 save percentage an 8-7-4 season record. Senior Eric Schierhorn has played in eight games, recording a 2.17 goals-against average, 0.910 save percentage and a 2-4-0 season record.

#Hughes43Hobey

Sophomore defenseman Quinn Hughes is among the initial nominees for the Hobey Baker Award. The first round consists of fan voting, which will run through March 10. Classmate Josh Norris was among the nominees before suffering a season-ending injury. » Vote

Empire State of Mind

The Wolverines traveled last weekend to New York City to take part in the Big Ten's annual "Super Saturday" event (Jan. 26) at Madison Square Garden. It was Michigan's third trip to MSG, with the first being a 5-1 loss to Cornell in 2012. In 2016, Michigan defeated Penn State, 6-3, but fell this year, 5-2, to the Nittany Lions.

Penn State Recap

Michigan is coming off a weekend split against No.15 Penn State. On home ice, U-M scored four goals in the second period to help knock off the Nittany Lions, 5-1, on Friday (Jan.25). The Wolverines were unable to overcome an early deficit against PSU in Madison Square Garden on Saturday (Jan.26) and U-M fell, 5-2.

Quinn-tesential Blue-Liner

Quinn Hughes has tallied 23 points (three goals, 20 assists) this season which is the tied for the sixth-highest point total of any defenseman in the NCAA. He is tied for second amongst all blue-liners in assists, ranks fourth amongst all skaters in the country and is tied for third in the Big Ten.

Locked In

Junior forward Will Lockwood has scored a goal in each of Michigan's last four games. Lockwood now has 10 goals on the season, which is tied for most on the team ,and his 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) are the second most on the team behind Quinn Hughes and are tied for 19th in the Big Ten.

Taking Advantage

Junior forward Jake Slaker has scored a quarter (five) of Michigan's 20 power-play goals this season, tied for sixth in the Big Ten.

Offensive Defensemen

The defensive duo of Quinn Hughes and senior Joseph Cecconi have combined for 40 points, the fourth-highest point total of any defensive pairing in the country behind Quinnipiac's Chase Priskie and Brandon Fortunato (53), Ferris State's Cooper Zech and Nate Kallen (44), and Mercyhurst's Joseph Duszak and Josh McDougall(46).

Winning the Draw

The Wolverines have won 51.4 percent of their draws, going 831-736 in the circle. Juniors Adam Winborg and Nick Pastujov lead the team with rates of 55 percent and 56 percent, respectively.

Creating Chances

Michigan has taken 925 shots on goal, which is second most in the country behind Penn State (1,021). U-M's 37.00 shots on goal per game ranks second behind the Nittany Lions (39.27). The Maize and Blue has outshot its opponents by an average of 8.88 shots per game and has taken 222 more shots than they have allowed this year, the fifth-best margin in the country.

Finishing Strong

Michigan has scored the last goal of the game in 56 percent of the games they have played (14 of 25). The 14 end-of-game goals are the most in the Big Ten and are tied for 16th most in the NCAA.

Up Ahead

Friday, Feb. 8 -- vs. Michigan State (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 9 -- vs. Michigan State – Duel in the D (Detroit, Mich.), 7 p.m.