Matthew Wood scored 9 seconds into the game and the Gophers men’s hockey team closed out the nonconference portion of its regular season schedule with a 5-2 victory over Mercyhurst on Saturday at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Gophers use four-goal first period to complete sweep of Mercyhurst with 5-2 victory
Matthew Wood got the scoring going with a goal only 9 seconds into the game.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
January 5, 2025 at 5:24AM
The third-ranked Gophers (17-3-2), who defeated the Lakers 6-2 on Friday, scored twice in the game’s first three minutes in a four-goal first period.
“It was a good weekend for us,” Gophers coach Bob Motzko said. “A lot of guys stepped up and got us through the weekend.”
The Gophers won the opening faceoff, and after Connor Kurth broke up a Mercyhurst clearing attempt, Wood snared the puck inside the blue line, skated in and sniped a shot in for a quick lead. Jimmy Snuggerud scored two minutes later to make it 2-0.
Ryan Chesley’s breakaway goal with 12 minutes remaining in the first period gave the Gophers a three-goal lead. Nick Michel scored with 4 minutes, 38 seconds remaining — on assists from Chesley and Snuggerud — to make it 4-0.
“[Michel has] got a great heart, he’s got talent, and all our guys accept everything that’s been thrown at them,” Motzko said.
The Lakers (2-17-3), who are winless (0-10-3) in their past 13 games, pulled within 4-1 with 2:17 left in the period on a goal by Jaryd Sych.
After a scoreless second period, Beckett Hendrickson scored on an assist from Chesley early in the third to give the Gophers a 5-1 lead. The Lakers’ Spencer Smith scored with 11:32 remaining to close out the scoring.
Liam Souliere made 27 saves for the Gophers. Michael Chambre stopped 39 shots for Mercyhurst.
The Big Ten-leading Gophers resume conference play next weekend with a series at Ohio State.
The Gophers are the last Big Ten men’s basketball team without a conference victory entering Monday vs. Ohio State.
