Sports

Flynn back in lineup, Kangas remains in goal

Gophers coach Don Lucia can't make too many changes these days even if he wanted to. He only has one player not on the bench who is healthy. Friday night the healthy scratch was forward Joe Miller.

By Roman Augustoviz

November 21, 2009 at 1:11AM

Ryan Flynn, a senior co-captain, is back in the lineup as the right wing on the fourth line. He injured a leg muscle in the first period of the Bemidji State series last weekend and was out thereafter.

Alex Kangas is back in goal, starting his seventh game in row for Gophers. Rest of lineup is same as last week:

First line/ Schroeder centering Hoeffel and Sacchetti

Second/ White centering Lucia and Budish

Third/ Matson centering Carman and Birkholz

Fourth/ Larson centering Hansen and Flynn

Defensive pairs

First/ Ness and Fischer

Second/ Fairchild and Schack

Third/ Wehrs and Helgeson

Goalie/

Kangas

Three keys to game:

1) Gophers need to stay out of box. UMD has 22 power play goals.

2) Getting an early lead for U would help. This is a team with little margin for error. Gophers seem to play better when ahead.

3) Kangas has to play well. Dogs averaged 49 shots a game in split with Michigan Tech last weekend. Good thing is, Kangas often plays his best when busy.