Gophers falling behind in Minnesota college hockey

The Gophers' frightening in-state slump began, fittingly, on Halloween night 2014. Minnesota's men's hockey team was beat up by St. Cloud State 4-1 that evening, and since then the Gophers are 2-11 against the Huskies and two of the other in-state programs: Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State Mankato.

Bemidji State is the only in-state program that hasn't benefited from the Gophers' Minnesota misery; the last time the Beavers beat Minnesota was November of 2009. Bemidji State, however, will try to change that Saturday in the first round of the North Star College Cup at Xcel Energy Center.

The Gophers' recent stretches show their free fall from in-state dominance:

• Their record in the past 10 games vs. in-state programs is 1-9.

• Their record in the 10 games before the slump is 6-3-1.

• And in the 10 games before that it's 8-1-1.

Gophers last baker's dozen against St. Cloud State, UMD and MSU Mankato:

Nov. 1, 2014 – Gophers 4, St. Cloud State 3 (OT): Justin Kloos completed his first career hat trick with the game-winning goal in overtime. The Gophers went on to lose seven in a row against in-state rivals.

Nov. 14, 2014 – UMD 3, Gophers 0: The Bulldogs delivered the first blow in the Gophers' fall from the top-ranked team in the country to unranked during the middle stretch of the 2014-2015 season. UMD scored one goal in each period to snap the Gophers' 17-game home unbeaten streak.

Nov. 15, 2014 – UMD 2, Gophers 1: The Bulldogs scored two first-period goals and held off a late push.

Jan. 23, 2015 – MSU Mankato 4, Gophers 2: The No. 1 Mavericks lived up to their ranking by holding off the Gophers with three goals in the second period of their North Star College Cup matchup.

Jan. 24, 2015 – UMD 2, Gophers 1: The Bulldogs scored late in the North Star consolation game.

Oct. 16, 2015 – UMD 3, Gophers 1: The Gophers' attempt at getting revenge for the March loss was spoiled.

Oct. 17, 2015 – UMD 3, Gophers 0: The Bulldogs scored two goals in the first period.

Nov. 13, 2015 – Gophers 4, MSU Mankato 0: Freshman goalie Eric Schierhorn recorded his second career shutout to even the Gophers record at 4-4.

Nov. 14, 2015 – MSU Mankato 3, Gophers 2 (OT): The Gophers gave up two goals in the final four minutes of the third, and the Mavericks scored once more in the final minute of overtime to finish their comeback.

Nov. 28, 2015 – St. Cloud State 3, Gophers 2: The Gophers took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but couldn't hold on, giving up two early goals.