Freshman center Logan Cooley scored two goals in the opening period — the first and last of their four that period — to lead the No. 3 Gophers to a 7-1 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers on Friday night at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Logan Cooley's two goals lead Gophers to rout over Badgers
Minnesota scored a season-high seven goals, two by Cooley in the opening period, to crush the Badgers 7-1 at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
December 10, 2022 at 6:05AM
The seven goals for Minnesota (14-5, 9-2 Big Ten) were a season high. And Cooley, on a recent hot streak, was the offensive catalyst while Justen Close stopped 37 shots.
"We made some plays early in the game," coach Bob Motzko said, "but it was not a 7-1 game at all. Closer [Justen Close] had to make way too many saves to keep it close. We have to tighten things up [Saturday]."
Cooley, the No. 3 overall pick in the NHL draft by the Arizona Coyotes this year, got his first goal skating across the crease, switching to his backhand and easily finding an open right side. A Badgers teammate had backed into his goalie, Jared Moe, hindering his movement.
"I saw it on the replay," Cooley said. "I didn't think it was going to count at all, but I will take it."
Cooley's second goal, at 18 minutes, 31 seconds of the first period came on a breakaway. It was his ninth goal of the season and he later added his 15th assist. Last weekend he had two goals and three assists in a sweep at Michigan State.
"Playing with a guy like Jimmy Snuggerud and Matthew Knies, it's so easy to play with," Cooley said, referring to his linemates. "They work so hard. Both can finish and make plays. It's awesome playing with them."
Jaxon Nelson and Bryce Brodzinski also scored for the Gophers in the first; Brodzinski's goal came only 29 seconds before Cooley made it 4-1.
Rhett Pitlick kept Minnesota's goals coming in the second period. He scored the Gophers' fifth goal from a sharp angle on the left side.
That prompted Wisconsin (7-10, 1-8) to replace Moe — who came into the game with a 2.12 goals-against average — with Kyle McClellan. Moe had 11 saves, McClellan 14.
The Gophers scored again in the second. Ryan Chesley, a freshman defenseman, got his first goal of the season.
Aaron Huglen got Minnesota's final goal in the third, stealing the puck and scoring on a breakaway.
Charlie Stramel scored the Badgers' goal on a power play in the first period, making it 2-1 at the time.
The Gophers men’s hockey team can trace Sam Rinzel’s improvement this past offseason down to the second, and he’ll be a focal point in this weekend’s series against No. 3 Michigan State.
