The Gophers kept two positive streaks alive Friday night against Michigan Tech, the WCHA's cellar-dweller.
They beat the Huskies for the sixth time in a row. The first five victories were all in Houghton, the latest at Mariucci Arena, a 5-2 win before an announced crowd of 9,672.
The rout extended the Gophers' unbeaten streak to a season-high four games. It also enabled Minnesota (14-12-5, 11-10-4) to climb into fifth place in the conference with 26 points, one point ahead of Wisconsin, which lost 4-2 at St. Cloud State.
"It was a good workmanlike win for us," Gophers coach Don Lucia said. "The key play of the game was Taylor [Matson] answering when they scored that first goal -- the very next shift. And then we were able to get a couple goal lead."
Tech's Daniel Holmberg got that first goal of the game on a 2-on-1 rush 6 minutes, 30 seconds into the second period.
But only 23 seconds later, Matson scored from the right point on a slapshot that goalie Kevin Genoe appeared screened on.
"It was kind of one of those dull games, kind of boring," said Jacob Cepis, typically the most outspoken Gopher. "That's what Don [coach Lucia] said. Some of those games you just have to gut out."
Nick Larson and Cepis scored 2 1/2 minutes apart in the middle of the second period as the home team's lead grew to 3-1.