Gophers, Eagles Play to 2-2 Draw Friday

MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 12 Golden Gophers males’s hockey staff skated to a 2-2 draw with No. 11/10 Boston College from 3M Arena at Mariucci Friday evening. Javon Moore and Brodie Ziemer scored in regulation earlier than LJ Mooney and Tanner Ludtke discovered the again of the online to assert the non-conference shootout victory.

Nathan Airey had one other spectacular outing in aim for Minnesota (1-2-1 general, 0-0-0 B1G), ending with 29 saves towards the Eagles (1-1-1 general, 0-0-0 Hockey East). The junior additionally stopped each BC makes an attempt within the shootout.

From the surface, the Gophers’ celebration after successful the shootout could have appeared extreme, however for the Maroon and Gold trustworthy, the second was a very long time coming. The staff had missed its earlier 28 shootout makes an attempt and misplaced 11-consecutive shootouts courting again to February of 2020 at Notre Dame. Mooney snapped the streak on the primary try of 2025-26 and Ludtke ripped dwelling the winner.

The dwelling aspect needed to climate early stress from Boston College and Airey delivered 5 saves within the opening 5 minutes. After holding off the surge, the Gophers thought they took the lead on the 12:58 mark, solely to have the aim waved off and a penalty referred to as as a substitute. Momentum instantly shifted to the guests as they transformed the person benefit on a one-timer from the left circle.

Minnesota rapidly answered to drag even with 6:32 left within the opening interval as Moore buried a juicy rebound from close to the aim line for his first collegiate tally. Jacob Rombach began the play on a shot from the purpose that rang off the crossbar earlier than a powerful forecheck gave Mason Moe an opportunity that was blocked. Moore managed the rebound and fired it previous the sliding goalie, tying the rating, 1-1.

The Maroon and Gold went to its first energy play lower than a minute later because the Eagles took a post-whistle penalty. The alternative was erased earlier than a second minor penalty to BC gave the Gophers a late man benefit that carried over into the second interval because it remained a 1-1 tie. The energy play unit was unable to capitalize once more, however because of the guests persevering with to battle after whistles, they have been referred to as for his or her third penalty.

This time it price the Eagles as Ziemer tucked dwelling the go-ahead aim 5:52 into the center body. The sophomore walked alongside the aim line and snuck a shot beneath the netminder’s pads for a 2-1 benefit by way of the Gophers’ first power-play aim this season. Shortly after taking its first lead of the collection, Minnesota obtained caught in its personal zone and a deflected cross went to an open skater, who fired within the tying aim. The dwelling aspect accurately challenged for offside earlier within the sequence, negating the aim and getting a roar from the 3M Arena at Mariucci crowd, sending the staff to the locker room with a 2-1 edge by means of 40 minutes.

The Gophers began the third interval seeking to put the sport away as they skated with a objective. An unfavorable penalty to the house staff allowed BC its third energy play and this time Airey and his protection shut down the assault. The Eagles introduced a way of urgency late within the motion and with lower than 5 minutes to play in regulation and scored to tie the competition, 2-2. A Minnesota skater was tripped within the offensive zone, producing an odd-man rush for the guests that they transformed. The Gophers made one other sturdy push on the finish of the sport however couldn’t discover the successful tally, sending the sport into additional time.

Both sides had probabilities within the further session with the Gophers controlling a lot of the play. The goaltenders, as they did all collection, have been sharp to the tip and the sport formally resulted in a 2-2 tie. In the shootout Mooney and Ludtke every stepped up and scored targets, whereas Airey shut down BC.

Noteworthy
In simply his fourth NCAA look, Moore discovered the again of the online along with his first aim and second level … Ziemer put away his third aim of the season and is now tied for the staff’s scoring lead with 4 factors … It was the second power-play tally of his profession … After lacking the opening collection, Moe made his Gophers debut final evening and in his second outing tonight, put his title on the scoresheet with the lone help on Moore’s aim … Mooney picked up an help on the person benefit and has a degree in three of his 4 profession video games … Mittelstadt additionally had an help on the Ziemer aim, stretching his level complete from the blue line to 4, whereas additionally main Minnesota with eight blocked photographs … Both groups went 1-for-3 on the person benefit Friday, and the Gophers held a slim, 33-31, edge in photographs on aim.

Coach Motzko’s Comments
“I give our guys credit; they did not get frustrated or get negative, they buckled down and did it the old-fashioned way today and it was great to see,” Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko stated. “I liked how we were competing the entire game. We established an energy level on our forecheck that has to happen, and we had a lot of great chances.”

Next Up: Away at North Dakota (Oct. 17-18)
The Gophers hit the highway for the primary time once they journey to rival North Dakota for a non-conference collection in Grand Forks, N.D., Oct. 17-18. Local followers will be capable of watch the motion simulcast stay on FOX9+, whereas audio protection can be out there by way of the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.