U hockey gameday

7 P.M. VS. UMD • Mariucci (Fri.), Amsoil (Sat.) • FSN, 1500-AM

Gophers at a glance: The No. 15 Gophers (0-1) are still searching for their first goal of the season entering a home-and-home series with Minnesota Duluth. They were shut out 3-0 by unranked Vermont in last Saturday's season opener and struggled to create good scoring chances. Six freshmen made their college debuts, including goaltender Eric Schierhorn. He gave up just up two goals, the third into an empty net, but the Gophers offense didn't provide any support. Captain and junior forward Justin Kloos took responsibility for the poor showing and put the blame on the large junior class instead of the rookies. Things won't get any easier for the Gophers this weekend as they try to end a four-game losing streak against a longtime rival. … The game will be streamed on BTN2Go and Fox Sports Go.

Minnesota Duluth at a glance: The No. 7 Bulldogs (0-1) return most of the team that beat the Gophers four consecutive times last season — after a 4-3 season-opening loss to the U — and ousted them in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Four of the last season's top six scorers are back, including Tony Cameranesi (a team-high 30 points on nine goals, 21 assists) and leading goal-scorer Dominic Toninato (16). Their young and talented sophomore goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo is also back after compiling a 2.30 goals-against average and .917 save percentage. All this experience earned the Bulldogs the No. 2 national preseason ranking, but they lost their season opener 3-2 at Bemidji State.

JASON GONZALEZ