Line scrambles, lineup changes as Gophers look for the split with UNO

As the Gophers look to respond from last night's 3-2 loss to Nebraska Omaha, coach Don Lucia has made a series of changes to his lines and defense pairings and scratched a face unfamiliar to sitting.

Veteran defenseman Mark Alt won't play tonight. There's no word of an injury, and it's been abundantly that Alt is one of the "four or five" veterans Lucia wants more from.

The scratch snaps Alt's consecutive games streak of 92 games. Seth Helgeson will play his 96th in a row tonight. The only game the junior Alt has previously missed in his collegiate career was his first ever game vs. University of Massachusetts in Oct. 8, 2010.

Other moves: Christian Isackson moves from first-line right wing to fourth-line center, Nate Condon moves from third-line left wing to first-line right wing, fourth-line center A.J. Michaelson moves to third-line left wing and fourth-line right wing Jake Parenteau moves to the blue line. Justin Holl is in as a wing.

In the WCHA, Nebraska Omaha is third, four points behind conference-leading Denver. Minnesota is tied for fourth with 10 points.

WCHA rankings:

Offense: UNO third at 3.69 goals a game; Gophers fifth at 3.29

Defense: Gophers first at 1.86 goals against a game; Mavericks second at 2.08

Power play: Mavericks third at 22.6%; Gophers fourth at 21.5% and 1 for their last 18.

Penalty kill: Gophers first at 88.9%; Mavericks second at 87.7.

Shots for: Mavericks second at 33.69; Gophers third at 33.36

Shots against: Gophers first at 22.57; Mavericks second at 22.92.

Mavericks' Ryan Walters is now tied for first in the WCHA with 18 points; the Gophers' Erik Haula is tied for fifth with 17 points.

And the line charts:

Gophers

Forwards

Kyle Rau-Nick Bjugstad-Nate Condon

Sam Warning-Erik Haula-Zach Budish

A.J. Michaelson-Travis Boyd-Seth Ambroz

Tom Serratore-Christian Isackson-Justin Holl

Defensemen

Brady Skjei-Nate Schmidt

Seth Helgeson-Mike Reilly

Jake Parenteau-Ben Marshall

Goalies

Adam Wilcox

Ryan Coyne

Mavericks

Forwards

Ryan Walters-Dominic Zombo-Josh Archibald

Matt White-Brock Montpetit-Zach Raubenheimer

Brent Gwidt-Johnnie Searfoss-Andrew Schmit

James Polk-Aaron Pearce-Alex Simonson

Defensemen

Jaycob Megna-Andrej Sustr

Tony Turgeon-Bryce Aneloski

Michael Young-Brian O'Rourke

Goalies

John Faulkner

Anthony Stolarz

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Gophers women beat Wisconsin 4-1 this afternoon and broke the Ridder attendance record, drawing 3,400 patrons. They play the Badgers again tomorrow at 2 p.m.