Preview: Gophers men's hockey at North Dakota
The Gophers travel to North Dakota this weekend.
October 20, 2017 at 4:53AM
7:37 p.m., Friday; 7:07 p.m., Saturday vs. North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena
• No Twin Cities cable outlets planned to provide the games (as of Thursday). The games can be streamed with a paid subscription to NCHC.tv. Radio: 1130-AM, 103.5-FM
Gophers: No. 8 Minnesota (2-2) played poorly in Friday night losses to Minnesota Duluth and Penn State before rebounding each weekend in victories over Union and Penn State. Tyler Sheehy and Scott Reedy skated this week but are doubtful for this series with unspecified injuries. Leon Bristedt can return Friday from a one-game Big Ten suspension for checking from behind. Tommy Novak had two goals and two assists over two games against North Dakota last season.
North Dakota: The No. 4 Fighting Hawks (3-0-1) have outscored two lower-grade opponents — Alaska Anchorage and St. Lawrence — by a combined 12-5. Third-year coach Brad Berry had to replace Brock Boeser (Canucks) and Tyson Jost (Avalanche), who hopped to the NHL after last season's first-round NCAA exit. This team is more balanced. The most dangerous forward is Chaska native Shane Gersich, who scored 21 goals as a sophomore last season. Senior Cam Johnson has a 1.23 goals-against average and has faced only 81 shots in four games.
The Gophers are still in the 18-team Big Ten’s top half -- for now, at least -- and Nebraska hopes to keep climbing.
