Michigan Wolverine Hockey: Minnesota Gopher -- Preview

Posted at 6:00pm — 1/9/2015

Michigan Wolverine Hockey: Minnesota Gopher — Preview

Michigan Icers Skate To GLI Title; Showdown With Gophers Next

What: Michigan (10-7-0) (1-1-0) vs. #9 Minnesota (10-5-1) (1-0-1) Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor
Fri 1/9 6:35 p.m. Sat 1/10 4:00 p.m.
TV/Radio: Friday: BTN / Saturday: FSD / WTKA 1050 a.m. with Al Randall & Bill Trainor. www.mgoblue.com

Rewinding Last Week’s Action:

The Wolverines were surprise winners in the annual GLI tournament- shocking Michigan Tech 2-1 (although being outshot by a 2:1 margin) and outlasting a plucky MSU team in the final 2-1 after the Spartans had upset Ferris State. Goaltender Steve Racine made good on his opportunity to play by turning in two solid performances.

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Perhaps Michigan was more lucky than good, but produced enough offense and played their best defense of the season to earn their 16th GLI title. Racine was joined by defenseman Michael Downing and forwards Andrew Copp and Zach Hyman on the all-GLI team. The secret in both games was Michigan’s ability to jump on top and then play lock down defense. Hyman scored both GWG’s and unsung forward Alex Kile was probably one of the better forwards on the ice that did not get recognized. The Wolverines played without top forwards JT Compher, Tyler Motte, Dylan Larkin and defenseman Zach Werenski who were in Montreal for the World Junior Tournament with Team USA. All are back after dropping a quarterfinal round game to Russia and will be in the lineup against the Golden Gophers.

Profiling The Golden Gophers:

Minnesota has been an imposing program in the last decade, often at the expense of the Wolverines. Last season the Gophers seem to toy with the B1G Ten before marching to the NCAA tournament final loss against Union. This season, a transition of experience doesn’t displace their talent. It just seems that the Gophers are a bit more vulnerable than a season ago. They enter the fray this weekend on a slide with a 3-4-1 record- not to mention an OT loss to the USA U18 team. In fairness, they did have some injuries and a player or two at the WJT also.

The schedule has been rigorous and certainly the pre-season hype for securing another B1G title is there. The Gophers only conference result came a few weeks ago at Michigan State where they dismantled the Spartans and then tied and lost a shootout the next game. A mixed result this weekend will be disappointing, but against a Michigan team brimming with confidence, it may be a just result.

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Michigan Wolverines

The Gophers are led by senior forward Kyle Rau (7-13-20), junior defender Mike Reilly (4-15-19) and a trio of sophomores: Justin Kloos (7-9-16), Taylor Cammarata (1-12-13) and Connor Reilly (8-3-11). Junior defenseman Brady Skjei (1-3-4) is back in the lineup after being out with injury which should boost Minnesota. Six seniors support the Gophers lineup- most as starters. The microscope has been on junior netminder Adam Wilcox (10-5-1, 2.1750 GAA and .921 save %). His numbers appear to be good, but he has been criticized for allowing soft goals at inopportune junctures this season. Expect him to be tested this weekend.

Wolverine Notes:

-Senior Zach Hyman is having a banner season. His nine goals are tied with Kile for the team lead, and his 20 points leads the team. Captain Andrew Copp (8-7-15) had a solid GLI and will now have more offensive support returning to the lineup.

-Hard to guess who coach Berenson will put into net this weekend. He was still uncommitted to “declaring” a #1 starter although Zach Nagelvoort (6-6-0, 2.78 GAA, .904 save %) had seven straight starts at Yost. Racine (4-1-0, 2.65 GAA, .922 save %) was called upon in the GLI and sparkled.

-Berenson is two wins shy of 800 wins, fourth all-time in NCAA hockey.

-Michigan hits the road after this weekend, traveling for a single game at OSU and a pair at Wisconsin.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Yostmeister

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