Michigan
Minnesota
Michigan, No. 11 Minnesota to Square Off in Big Ten Series Battle at Yost
12/1/2021 5:25:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» No. 3-ranked Michigan play host to No. 11 Minnesota n Friday and Saturday at Yost Ice Arena.
» Michigan holds a one-point lead over Minnesota in the B1G standings.
» The Wolverines average 4.25 goals per game, the second-best scoring offense in the nation.
THIS WEEK
Friday, Dec. 3 -- vs. #11 Minnesota (Yost Ice Arena), 6:30 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network | Tickets | Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video
Saturday, Dec. 4 -- vs. #11 Minnesota (Yost Ice Arena), 7 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network | Tickets | Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video
• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
PROMOTIONS
• Dec. 3: Canned Food Drive, Postgame Chuck-A-Puck
• Full Promotions Schedule
• Social Media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Just one point separates the No. 3-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team (12-4-0, 5-3-0 Big Ten) and No. 11 Minnesota (9-7-0, 5-3-0 Big Ten) in the Big Ten standings as the two ranked squads are set to face Friday and Saturday (Dec. 3-4) at Yost Ice Arena. Puck drop on Friday (Dec. 3) is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and Saturday's (Dec. 4) matchup is set for a 7 p.m. start, with both games to be broadcast on Big Ten Network. Standing-room only tickets are still available for both games.
Wolverine Bites
• Michigan is 12-4-0 overall on the season following a non-conference sweep against Niagara. The Wolverines are ranked No. 3 in the USCHO poll and No. 2 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.
• A pair of superstar sophomores lead the team in scoring with 23 points. Kent Johnson has four goals and 19 assists while blueliner Owen Power checks in with three goals and 20 helpers (tied for most in the nation). Matty Beniers leads in goal-scoring with 11 along with eight assists for 19 points, tied with Brendan Brisson (10-9-19) for fourth most. Last season's leading point-getter, Thomas Bordeleau (5-12-17), rounds out the top five.
• Jacob Truscott has chipped in eight points while leading the nation with a +16 on-ice rating. His defensive partner, standout freshman Luke Hughes, checks in at +14 with 15 points.
• Owen Power leads the team in blocked shots with 19, followed by Matty Beniers (16) and Luke Hughes (15).
• Erik Portillo has played every minute in goal for the Wolverines thus far, assembling a 12-4 record with one shutout, a .920 save percentage, and a 2.17 goals-against average.
Scouting the Golden Gophers
• The Golden Gophers are deep -- returners Ben Meyers (five goals, 11 assists, 16 points) and Blake McLaughlin (3-12-15) have led the way in points while Bryce Brodzinski (8-4-12) and Sammy Walker (7-4-11) have scored 27.8 percent of the team's goals. A fresh face, Matthew Knies, has made an immediate impact for Minnesota, tied with McLaughlin for second in scoring with seven goals and eight assists for 15 points.
• Littered with high-end blueliners, the Gophers' defensive corps features experienced names like Brock Faber, Jackson LaCombe and Ryan Johnson. Those three also lead the team in shot blocks, with LaCombe on top at 21 while Johnson and Faber check in with 17.
• In net, Minnesota captain and ex-Wolverine Jack LaFontaine has played every game for Minnesota. LaFontaine, fresh off a Mike Richter Award-winning season, has an .899 save percentage with a 2.66 goals-against average across his 15 games as a fifth-year senior.
Series History
• The Golden Gophers and Wolverines have been competing in hockey for nearly 99 years. Over that span, Minnesota holds a 145-128-19 lead in the all-time series with Michigan. However, the Wolverines lead 67-54-10 in Ann Arbor.
• Since the Big Ten Hockey Conference started play in the 2013-14 season, Minnesota leads the series with U-M 16-12-4. The teams have met twice in the Big Ten Championship game, with each program taking one tournament title (Minnesota, 2015; Michigan, 2016) against the other.
• Last season, Minnesota swept Michigan at Yost in February before the Wolverines salvaged a split at Mariucci. When the teams last met on March 15 in the 2021 Big Ten Tournament in South bend, Ind., the Golden Gophers came out on top, 3-2.
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 10 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 11 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 8 p.m.
