Hello, college hockey fans. I'm back at 3M Arena at Mariucci for the series finale between the Gophers and Michigan (7 p.m., FSN Plus). Tonight's game takes on added importance for Minnesota (13-11-1, 4-8-1-1 Big Ten), which was on its heels early in a 5-3 loss to the Wolverines (9-10-2, 4-7-2-1) on Friday night. Michigan scored 14 seconds into the game and led 3-1 after one period, prompting Gophers coach Don Lucia to pull sophomore goalie Mat Robson after the first period.

Tonight's starter in goal for the Gophers will be junior Eric Schierhorn, who made eight saves and gave up one goal in the final two periods Friday.

The Gophers' Big Ten losing streak reached four games Friday night, and they have lost six of their past seven in league play and are in a 1-7-1 slump in the conference. Minnesota entered Saturday in a fifth-place tie with Wisconsin in the seven-team Big Ten, and the Gophers at present would have to go on the road for a conference quarterfinal series.

As the Gophers have struggled in Big Ten play, other conference teams have heated up. Notre Dame has won 15 in a row and is a perfect 12-0 in Big Ten games. Second-place Penn State is on an 8-0-3 run, including 4-0-3 in the Big Ten. And third-place Ohio State is on an 8-2-1 stretch and has a 6-2-1 run in conference play.

Friday's loss also hurt the Gophers in the PairWise Rankings, dropping them from No. 9 to No. 13. Teams in the Nos. 13-14 range often are dangerously close to missing the NCAA tournament when the 16-team field is selected. What's helping keep the Gophers in NCAA at-large contention is a 9-3 nonconference record, which includes a sweep of Clarkson (No. 1 in the PairWise entering Saturday) and splits with St. Cloud State (No. 3) and North Dakota (No. 8).

Here are the line combinations and defense pairs for tonight's game:

Star Tribune, Star Tribune

GOPHERS

Brent Gates Jr.-Mike Szmatula-Tyler Nanne

Leon Bristedt-Tyler Sheehy-Brannon McManus

Rem Pitlick-Casey Mittelstadt-Scott Reedy

Ryan Norman-Darian Romanko-Jack Ramsey

Ryan Lindgren-Jack Sadek

Steve Johnson-Jack Glover

Sam Rossini-Ryan Zuhlsdorf

Eric Schierhorn in goal.

MICHIGAN

Dexter Dancs-Cooper Marody-Tony Calderone

Brendan Warren-Jake Slaker-Josh Norris

James Sanchez-Adam Winborg-Dakota Raabe

Michael Pastujov-Nick Pastujov-Jack Becker

Quinn Hughes-Joseph Cecconi

Sam Piazza-Luke Martin

Griffin Luce-Nicholas Boka

Hayden Lavigne in goal.