7 p.m. Fri., Sat. vs. Penn St. • FSN+ Fri., BTN Sat., 1500-AM
Gophers-Penn State hockey series preview
February 3, 2017 at 2:36AM
Preview: This weekend's series begins the stretch run for the No. 7 Gophers (15-7-2, 6-2 Big Ten), who finish the regular season with 12 Big Ten games on six consecutive weekends. They are tied with Wisconsin atop the conference standings with 18 points, while sixth-ranked Penn State (16-4-2, 5-2-1) is two points back in third place. The Nittany Lions received the program's first No. 1 ranking in mid-January but have gone 0-2-1 since then.
Players to watch: Gophers goaltender Eric Schierhorn was named the Big Ten's third star last week after giving up three goals on 54 shots in a loss to Minnesota Duluth and a shutout victory over Bemidji State. Schierhorn has surrendered two or fewer goals in seven of his past 10 games. Forward Brent Gates has points in four consecutive games (two goals/three assists). Penn State forward Andrew Sturtz has 17 goals for the nation's highest-scoring team (4.41 goals per game), and Denis Smirnov has 11 goals, tied for the national lead among freshmen. Vince Pedrie of Rochester, Minn., is second among Big Ten defensemen with 19 points.
Numbers: Penn State leads the nation in shots per game (48.2) and goal differential (+45). … The Gophers are ranked No. 5 in scoring offense (3.71 goals per game).
RACHEL BLOUNT
about the writer
Brad Nessler last called a Gophers game in 2015. He grew up St. Charles, Minn., and got his broadcasting start in Mankato, so this has been a chance to reacquaint with old friends.
