Nico Sacchetti, who scored the game-winner last Saturday in the Gophers' 2-1 victory over Colorado College, is back in the lineup for Friday's game against St. Cloud State at Mariucci.
This will be just his ninth game of the season.
Otherwise, the lineup looks very familiar.
The lines:
1st line/ Kyle Rau-Nick Bjugstad-Zach Budish ... Bjugstad had a hat trick in his last game vs. SCSU
2nd line/ Sam Warning-Erik Haula-Jake Hansen ... This line had been pretty silent lately, although Hansen has been playing wiht a lot of energy
3rd line/ Nate Condon-Taylor Matson-Seth Ambroz ... Condon and Matson have to be one of the best pairs of penalty killers in the WCHA and probably anywhere
4th line/ Tom Serratore-Travis Boyd-Nico Sacchetti ... Could create a nice mismatch against one of the Huskies' bottom lines
Defensive pairs:
Seth Helgeson-Justin Holl ... Holl seems to be getting low more often
Ben Marshall-Mark Alt ... Alt already has more goals and assists than last season, 4-12--16
Jake Paenteau-Nate Schmidt ... Mr. Defense and Mr. Offense, Parenteau has 2 assists but has developed into a shut-down D-man, Schmidt has 26 points
Goalie:
Kent Patterson .. This will be his 28th start this and 49th in a row since last season
ST. CLOUD STATE LINEUP
1st line/ Ben Hanowski-Travis Novak-Jarrod Rabey ... Rabey is 6-1, 238 and moving up from D, he has three goals and five assists. SCSU has only 11 healthy forwards.
2nd line/ Jared Festler-Nic Dowd-David Eddy ... Solid second line with 24 goals between them
3rd line/ Nick Oliver-Cory Thorson-Brooks Bertsch ... Thorson was questionable earlier in week, skated at least one practice with big red cross on his jersey, meaning nobody should hit him. Was injured last Saturday vs. North Dakota
4th line/ Garrett Milan-Joe Rehkamp-Joey Holka ... all-freshman line; Rehkamp joined team at midseason leaving his USHL team
Defensive pairs:
Andrew Prochno-Nick Jensen ... Prochno hot lately, already has 20 points as freshman
Kevin Gravel-Taylor Johnson ... Gravel is a big D-man, 6-4, 200 after a big meal (listed at 198)
Sam Zabkowicz-Tim Daly ... Have five points between them
Goalie:
Ryan Faragher ... freshman is likely starter, although Mike Lee is the backup. Lee is coming off hip surgery last fall which he had after appearing in five games.