Minnesota will be down three players for this weekend’s series
The #3 ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers are in the midst of an eight game winning streak—their longest since 2022, but may find it a bit tough to keep it going this weekend. Minnesota will be missing three players this weekend when they face Bemidji State in a home and home series that begins at 3M Arena at Mariucci on Thursday night. The two teams will head to Bemidji for the second game of the series on Saturday.
Minnesota swept Wisconsin on the road last weekend to extend their winning streak to eight games, but it was not easy. The Badgers took a 2-0 lead on Friday night before Minnesota would score three straight to pick up a 3-2 win. The Gophers got a shorthanded goal from Ryan Chesley midway through the second period, and then a Jimmy Snuggeud power play bomb tied the game at two late in the second. Snuggerud would get the game winner in the third on a gorgeous pass from freshman Erik Pahlsson. Nathan Airey made 15 saves to move to 5-0 on the season.
Saturday the Gophers struck first before giving up their lead. Brody Lamb cashing in on the powerplay midway through the second period to put Minnesota up 1-0. The Badgers would answer with a pair of goals including one with just 32 seconds left in the second period to give them a 2-1 lead at the break. But the Gophers battled back again with Connor Kurth scoring the game tying goal on the power play with 6:04 to play. The game would head to overtime where freshman Brodie Ziemer would win it for the Gophers knocking a Snuggerud pass out of mid air and past Wisconsin goalie William Gramme and start the celebration right in front of the Badger student section. Liam Souliere made 31 saves to move to 4-1 on the season and still has not given up more than two goals in any game he has played as a Gopher. Snuggerud was named the Big Ten’s #1 Star of the Week for his four point effort against the Badgers.
Minnesota earned the sweep missing both defenseman Cal Thomas and forward August Falloon who have missed the past two series with injuries. They also lost Pahlsson midway through the second game in Madison on a hard check in the center of the ice. Thomas and Falloon are listed as week to week but will miss their third straight series this weekend. Meanwhile Pahlsson is out until at least Christmas according to Bob Motzko this week. That will test the Gophers depth as 5th year senior and St. Johns transfer Nick Michel will likely dress and play for the Gophers this weekend after not seeing any game action a year ago.
Bemidji State comes into this series with a 4-5 overall record and a 3-3 record in CCHA play. They have split all three conference series this far including last weekend where they won the series opener at Augustana 4-3 in overtime on Friday before falling in Saturday’s game 5-1. Jere Vaisanen leads the Beavers in scoring with six points, while tying with Carter Randklev for the goal-scoring lead with four. Only four players in the lineup for the Beavers have scored more than one goal this season. Bemidji State has struggled offensively this season ranking 44th nationally averaging 2.3 goals per game. Defensively the Beavers have been much better thanks to goaltender Mattias Sholl. He has started all nine games and leads the CCHA with two shutouts as he holds a 2.53 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.
Minnesota has dominated Bemidji State in their history. The two teams play each other for the 24th and 25th times this week. The Gophers have a 20-2-1 edge in the all-time series and have won the teams’ last two official meetings, as well as a New Year’s Eve exhibition in Bemidji in 2022 and a preseason exhibition in Minneapolis in October of 2023.
The last regulation game between the two teams came in the first round of the Mariucci Classic on December 28, 2019. Minnesota would pick up a 5-2 win.
Minnesota is 2-0 against the CCHA this season after sweeping St. Thomas in October.
Both games this weekend will air live on Fox9+ with Thursday’ also streaming on B1G+.
HOW TO WATCH:
Bemidji State Beavers vs #3 Minnesota Golden Gophers
Where: 3M Arena at Mariucci, Minneapolis (Thur); Sanford Center, Bemidji, MN (Sat)
When: 7PM Thursday; 6 PM Saturday
TV: Fox9+
Stream: B1G+ (Thur); Midco Sports Plus (Sat)
Radio: 1130AM, 103.5 FM, I Heart Radio, The Varsity Network