Minnesota will again be short on their front lines
The Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s hockey team will be the only Big Ten team not facing off at Wrigley Field over the next two days. And with the current state of the Gophers roster, that’s just fine. Instead of an outdoor conference game with a short roster, Minnesota will host the Mercyhurst Lakers—one of the worst teams in college hockey this season for a series at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Minnesota comes off of their holiday break in great position. They are ranked #3 in the nation and have a 15-3-2 record. They only earned one Big Ten point in their last series when they hosted Michigan State, but again played that series with just nine forwards.
Minnesota will hope to get a player or two back from injury this weekend or they again will have only nine forwards available for the series. Both Brodie Ziemer and Oliver Moore are playing with the US World Junior team in Ottawa, Canada. Team USA defeated Switzerland to reach the semifinals on Friday against Czechia. That means both players will be unavailable for the entire weekend,
Minnesota may get back either center Erik Pahlsson who has been out since November with an upper body injury but was seen skating earlier this week, or Mason Nevers who got injured Thanksgiving weekend with a neck injury and his missed action since. They are not expected to see the return of August Falloon and Cal Thomas this weekend as both suffered longer term injuries and may be out a few more weeks.
The team that has hot the ice has been one of the nation’s best. The Gophers have picked up an NCAA-best 80 goals this season from 17 different players and 213 points via 21 of their 22 total skaters, and one goaltender, that have taken the ice. Minnesota’s offensive depth in 2024-25 has shined through as 10 players have reached double-digit scoring, the most of any college program, and the team is tied for first nationally in scoring offense, averaging 4.0 goals per game. The team has lit the lamp five or more times in 10 appearances and been held to fewer than three goals just four times. More importantly, the Gophers are putting in the work on the defensive end, holding the NCAA’s second-best scoring margin at plus-2.0 as they have surrendered 40 goals all season, a 2.0 goals per game average.
Mercyhurst on the other side has not. The Lakers come in a 2-15-3 on the season and have no won a game since November 2nd. Senior Dustin Geregach’s six goals and 15 points lead the Lakers with Mickey Burns and Steven Agriogianis next behind with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Their goaltending has been split between Carter McPhail and Simon Buschler, nether of whom have been good. They both allow over three goals per game.
Minnesota is 5-0 all time against Mercyhurst with the most recent meetings being a two-game series to open the 2021-22 season at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Both games this weekend will air live on Fox9 and will be streamed via B1G+.
HOW TO WATCH
Mercyhurst Lakers @ #3 Minnesota Golden Gophers
Where: 3 M Arena at Mariucci, Minneapolis, Minnesota
When: 7 PM Friday, 5 PM Saturday
TV: Fox 9
Stream: B1G+
Radio: 1130 AM/ 103.5 FM/ I Heart Radio