Parenteau back in lineup for Gophers, Knight for UND

Sophomore defenseman Jake Parenteau is back in the lineup for the Gophers against North Dakota tonight at the Ralph. He was a little nicked up and missed the Gophers' 4-3 loss to Notre Dame last Saturday. Gophers coach Don Lucia said the team missed him.

Parenteau has one assist in 19 games but leads the Gophers in fewest scoring chances given up, a stat known only by coaches.

So here is the Gophers' lineup -- you should know it, it doesn't change:

1st line/ Kyle Rau-Nick Bjugstad-Zach Budish ... Both Rau and Bjugstad should be a lot better than against the Irish. They have had a chance to rest up a little from the World Juniors. Actually, offensively Bjugey wasn't bad last Saturday with seven shots on net and his 17th goal.

2nd/ Sam Warning-Erik Haula-Jake Hansen ... Hansen has nine goals, as soon as he gets one more he will be the fourth Gophers with 10. Warning has had trouble putting the puck in the net; he's stuck at three.

3rd/ Nate Condon-Taylor Matson-Seth Ambroz ... Condon and Matson are two of team's top penalty killers, but Gophers need to stay out of the box

4th line/ Tom Serratore-Travis Boyd-Nick Larson .... Serratore and Larson both had goals in the first UND series.

Seth Helgeson-Justin Holl ... biggest duo for Gophers

Ben Marshall-Mark Alt .. Alt can be physical; Marshall had to do good job on breakout

Jake Parenteau-Nate Schmidt ... Schmidt has to move the puck around on the power play, find the open lanes

Goalie:

Kent Patterson ... Should be 45th start in row going back to next season. Do you know who his backup is? Bonus points if you know the Gophers' third goalie.

UND coach Dave Hakstol seemed pleased he could tell North Dakota fans that he would be able to field a full lineup tonight. In recent games, UND had 17 and 16 skaters, rather than 18 because of injuries.

One key returning player is first-line center Corban Knight, an alternate captain. He missed the last two games with a lower body injury. And three games ago, tried to play, but had to give it up after a few shifts.

Defenseman Derek Forbort, though, is still listed as a game-time decsion -- and is not in the pregame lineup -- after being injured at the World Juniors playing for the U.S. team. Hakstol said Forbort would try to take part in the pregame warm-ups and see how he feels.

The lines:

1st line/ Brock Nelson-Corban Knight-Danny Kristo .. Nelson and Kristo both have 24 points in 21 games, Knight has 21 in 18 games.

3rd/ Brendan O'Donnell-Mark MacMillan-Connor Gaarder ... Gaarder has really emerged from this group. The right wing from Edina recently received one of the WCHA weekly honors. ... All freshmen

4th line/ Dan Senkbell-Stephane Pattyn-Michael Parks ... three freshmen with six points between them. Gophers might be able to score on these guys.

D-pairs:

Dillon Simpson-Ben Blood ... Simpson has been averaging an assist per game in UND' 8-2-1 surge

Andrew MacWilliam-Nick Mattson ... Mattson is from Chanhassen

Goalie: