Gophers men's hockey beats St. Thomas 7-1

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The Tommies scored first on Friday night, but the Gophers answered back in a big way at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

By Jerry Zgoda

Early to start and a little late to the party, the Gophers men’s hockey team nevertheless skated away with a 7-1 victory Friday over nearby nonconference foe St. Thomas at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

They trailed before the game was seven minutes old, then scored the game’s next – and final – seven goals. It was their first time at home after four games away to start their regular season in Las Vegas and Duluth.

Offensive-minded sophomore defenseman Sam Rinzel scored twice and assisted on a goal while Jimmy Snuggerud assisted twice and the formerly experimental Connor Kurth-Jimmy Clark-Matthew Wood line contributed on another four goals. Defensemen Ryan Chesley and Mike Koster got in the box score, creating offense from the defense as well.

“Well, the right guys got the puck tonight and made plays,” Gophers coach Bob Motzko said. “Big-time goals out there. Some of our big boys made some great plays and stretched the game. There was a lot of the game that was 50-50. The coach in me thinks much more of the game was tight, especially the second period.”

The Gophers scored three times in the first period and three again in the third, sandwiched around the mere one goal they scored in the second period.

They all did so in a game that oddly started at 5:30 p.m. because of homecoming festivities later in the evening. They came back from the road to a boisterous crowd announced at 9,716 fans and headed home by about 7:30 pm.

“It was great, kind of weird to play at 5:30,” Motzko said. “Maybe get a good night’s sleep tonight.”

The Gophers went home Friday 4-1-0 in nonconference play, their only loss 2-1 in overtime to Nebraska-Omaha in the desert two weeks ago. The Tommies, a coaches’ poll pick to win the CCHA, are 1-2-1.

Motzko attributed his team’s early 1-0 deficit to too much turning over the puck before they got the puck deep in St. Thomas’ end and pressured their opponent. Edina’s Liam Malmquist scored St. Thomas’ lone goal 6:43 into the game.

“They came out hard — they’re a good team,” said Wood, a junior transfer from Hockey East’s Connecticut. “We always have to be ready. I think we responded pretty well.”

Chesley, freshman August Falloon and Kurth scored one of three first-period goals within six minutes. Wood scored the second period’s only goal, displaying both his speed and 6-4 size.

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Three of the Gophers’ four lines got a goal. Kurth got his fifth in goal in as many games. Wood now has six assists to go with his three goals. Rinzel scored for the third and fourth times from the backline.

“The only problem is we have to start a line,” Motzko said. “That means one line has to be fourth. I love how hard they’re working and how they compete. We have four lines that can get after it.”

The rematch is Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center, where the Gophers won 6-5 over St. Thomas in overtime last year. The Gophers won 3-0 at Mariucci the next day.

“It’s so fun,” Rinzel said after the game. “It felt like half a season before we could feel this crowd again. The fans were awesome tonight. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

Motzko was told it’s a longer time than usual from Friday’s 7:30 p.m. finish to Saturday’s puck drop.

“They do, too,” Motzko said. “They’ve got a long drive home. Eight o’clock tomorrow. It’ll be exciting to walk in there. Hopefully it’s a big crowd. I know it’s homecoming and there’s a big football game. I hope some people keep their Gopher colors on and slip over there and keep the weekend going.”

The Gophers women’s hockey team ended a four-game winless streak with a flourish, an 8-2 victory over Minnesota State Mankato on Friday at Ridder Arena. It was the 500th victory in WCHA play for the Gophers.

Jerry Zgoda covers Minnesota United FC and Major League Soccer for the Star Tribune.

The Gophers have seen seasons swing based on the outcome of this game, and Saturday’s homecoming matchup pits two hungry, 4-3 teams.

The Tommies scored first on Friday night, but the Gophers scored again and again and again.

Friday night’s 8-2 victory was the 500th in WCHA play for the Gophers, the first team to reach that mark.

The Gophers have seen seasons swing based on the outcome of this game, and Saturday’s homecoming matchup pits two hungry, 4-3 teams.