The Gophers have 14 healthy forwards right now, which limits coach Don Lucia a bit on the moves he can make. But he did bench two little used forwards for Sam Warning and one other player who hasn't played much.
Will it pay dividends? Who knows with this up and down team.
Here are the Gophers lines:
Forwards
1st line/ Kyle Rau-Nick Bjugstad-Zach Budish ... Bjugstad got his 20th goal and had nine shots on net Friday. He was a beast but too many of his teammates were lambs.
2nd line/ Sam Warning-Erik Haula-Jake Hansen ... Hansen may have been the Gophers' second best player the first night. He was hustling and had five shots in the opening period. Had several good scoring chances. Has to converent one. Warning sat on Friday. He's fast and should be motivated. ... Haula was the only minus-2 player in Gophers lineup the first night.
3rd line/ Nate Condon-Taylor Matson-Seth Ambroz ... Condon almost had his fourth short-handed goal on Friday. Ambroz is back with his usual line after playing on the second line the first night.
4th line/ Tom Serratore-Travis Boyd-Nico Sacchetti ... There's an opening in the lineup with Nick Larson out with a broken wrist. Sacchetti could seize it if he can produce. He had zero points in seven games, but he is a senior who has played in 111 games. He sat Friday but has replaced Joe Miller.
