Former WCHA foe Notre Dame will visit the current Mariucci Arena for the first time when it comes to town Saturday, for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game. In a contest that will pit two top-five teams against each other, Minnesota head coach Don Lucia will look to improve his record to 3-0-0 against his alma mater from behind the Gopher bench. In the teams' last meeting, on March 27, 2004, Minnesota eliminated the Fighting Irish from their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, with a 5-2 win. Minnesota is 22-13-2 all-time against Notre Dame, with a 14-7-2 mark at home.
After reaching the Frozen Four for the second time in four years in 2010-11, Notre Dame began this season as the nation's top-ranked team. With an 8-3-3-0 CCHA record, the Irish sit in a tie for second place in their conference and are ranked third in the country with a 12-6-1 record. After ending a season-worst four-game losing streak against Ferris State before the break, the Irish started the season's second half with a 5-2 win against Boston University last week, despite playing without U.S. World Junior players T.J. Tynan (7g-20a) and Stephen Johns (2g-4a). Tynan, who leads the Irish and is tied for sixth in the country in points with 27, is followed by Edina, Minn. native Anders Lee (14g-8a).
Minnesota was without its top two goal-scorers last weekend for the Mariucci Classic, as Nick Bjugstad (16 goals) and Kyle Rau (12 goals) were both representing the United States in the World Junior Championship in Canada. Lucia is excited to have them back, and noted "they are terrific players, and a very big part of our hockey team."
Minnesota's 3-2 loss to Northeastern last Saturday was the first time that the Gophers dropped a Saturday game this year. Minnesota has outscored its opponents 41-19 on Saturdays so far this season. In that Saturday loss Minnesota gave Northeastern 12 power-play opportunities; the visitors scored twice on the man advantage, including the game-winning goal in the third period.
Lucia knows that trend needs to change this weekend.
"We took way too many penalties last weekend," said the coach, "and we will need to be much better in terms of discipline this weekend or we will be in big trouble against Notre Dame."
Senior goaltender Kent Patterson has played every minute in net for the Gophers this season. He leads the nation with 15 wins and has played a nation-leading 1,323 minutes. Patterson is 15-6-1 with a 2.04 GAA and a .921 save percentage this season.
The Gophers will host Notre Dame Saturday at 7 p.m. Next weekend the Gophers get back into WCHA play, as they travel to Grand Forks for a showdown with arch-rival North Dakota.
