MinÂneÂsoÂta has won four games in a row and is 6-1 in its past seven games.
"We were opportunistic tonight," Gophers coach Bob Motzko said. "Every once and a while, you have to have a game where your skill guys make some plays and build a lead for you. … We'll take the win for sure.
McManus tied the score at 2-all just over 12 minutes into the second period. It was the first of five Minnesota goals in a row. Sammy Walker put the Gophers ahead 3-2 five minutes later and then Brodzinski got his first goal unassisted with 3:14 left in the period. That's three goals in 4:41.
The GoÂphers (11-10-4, 6-5-4 Big Ten) kept buildÂing on that lead in the third peÂriod — even though they only had three shots on net those 20 minutes — and it was Brodzinski and McÂManÂus who found the net aÂgain.
Brodzinski, a freshÂman forÂward from Blaine, scored in the eighth minÂute, giving him his first multipoint game. McÂManÂus, a juniÂor forÂward from NewÂport Beach, Calif., got his second goal in the 14th minute. He has four goals and four asÂsists in his past three games.
Jack LaÂFonÂtaine made 11 saves for MinÂneÂsoÂta in 26½ minÂutes and JarÂed Moe 18 the rest of the way.
DanÂiel Lebedeff had 18 stops for the BadgÂers (10-14-1, 5-11-1) in the first 36-plus minÂutes beÂfore he was reÂlieved by Jack BerÂry afÂter the GoÂphers took a 4-2 lead. BerÂry had three saves.
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