After 12 consecutive games against a ranked opponent, the No. 2 Gophers got to play unranked Arizona State. In a warm weather setting, no less, outside the arena.
But Minnesota barely won 3-2 over the independent on Friday night in Tempe, Ariz. And the Gophers, in their fourth straight win, were outshot 30-24.
"For two periods, that was as bad as we've played all season and it was almost through our entire lineup," Gophers coach Bob Motzko said. "We made a couple plays early in the game and we hung on. We'll be better tomorrow, that's one thing I do know.""
Goalie Justen Close, who missed the team's sweep of Michigan last weekend because he was ill, was back in the nets and stopped 28 shots and even drew a tripping penalty in the second.
Jaxon Nelson and Bryce Brodzinski gave Minnesota (11-4) a 2-0 lead in the opening period. Nelson scored on a power play halfway through the period, Brodzinski got his goal with 2½ minutes left.
Dylan Jackson scored Arizona State's first goal three minutes into the second.
Freshman Logan Cooley restored Minnesota's two-goal cushion early in the third with an amazing lacrosse-style goal. It was ultimately needed because Ryan Alexander got the Sun Devils within one again at 17:05 of the third.
On Cooley's goal, he got the puck behind the net, skated in front and flung the puck past T.J. Semptimphelter, who stopped 21 shots for ASU (7-7).
