GOPHERS MEN'S SERIES PREVIEW
8 p.m. Friday; 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Penn State
TV; Radio: ESPNU Friday; FSN Saturday; 1130-AM, 103.5-FM
High-scoring Penn State visits
Preview: The Gophers (6-7-4, 3-2-3 Big Ten) will look to get their penalty kill back on track against No. 9 Penn State (11-5-2, 3-4-1-1) this weekend at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The Gophers had allowed only nine power-play goals in 15 games before giving up three in two games against Ferris State last weekend — the Bulldogs had a 50.0 percent conversion rate. The Gophers' penalty kill still ranks 18th in the nation, holding opponents to a 16 percent conversion rate, and Gophers coach Bob Motzko attributed the slide to having only three days of practice after a long break. Penn State's power play, meanwhile, ranks fourth in the country at 28.3 percent.
Players to watch: Penn State's top forward Evan Barratt is with the U.S. junior national team. Four other players are scoring more than a point per game, including sophomore Alex Limoges, who like Barratt has 29 points. Sophomore winger Scott Reedy earned his first career hat trick in the Gophers' 5-3 victory against Ferris State a week ago, earning the Big Ten Conference's third star for the week. Reedy suffered a high ankle sprain after a tangle-up on the boards against North Dakota on Oct. 27 and sat out the next four games. Gophers senior center Darian Romanko (undisclosed injury) is out.
MEGAN RYAN
