The Gophers are still desperate to find the right line combinations after an 0-3 start with only one goal. Coach Don Lucia made several lineup changes that include dropping usual first-line forward Hudson Fasching to the second line entering Friday night's series opener against Northeastern at Mariucci Arena.

Fasching will start the game skating with Leon Bristedt and Tommy Novak. The first line gets a new look with Taylor Cammarata reuniting with Justin Kloos, and freshman Jack Ramsey jumping from the fourth line to the first line at right wing.

Ramsey had some of the Gophers' best scoring chances in last weekend's losses against Minnesota Duluth. Kloos leads the team in shots on goal, and Cammarata has spent most of the past two seasons skating with the captain Kloos.

Senior forward Ryan Reilly will skate on the fourth line and make his first appearance of the season. Freshman defenseman Jack Sadek will make his college debut.

Northeastern is also coming off a pair of losses. The Huskies beat the then-No. 3 Gophers 3-2 during Thanksgiving weekend last year in Boston. Minnesota leads the all-time series 8-6.

• Series Preview: No. 19 Gophers vs. Northeastern

Friday: 7 p.m. (FSN Plus, 1500-AM) • Saturday: 8 p.m. (FSN, 1500-AM) • Mariucci Arena

Gophers at a glance: Despite the slow start, they remain ranked in the USCHO Top 20 tied for 19th. They dropped four spots from No. 15 after being swept by in-state rival Minnesota Duluth in a home-and-home series last weekend. Freshman goaltender Eric Schierhorn has shown promise in three starts by allowing just eight goals for a 2.71 goals-against average. The issues have been the Gophers offense and lack of scoring by an experienced junior class. Junior captain Justin Kloos leads the team with five shots, but the team's lone goal was scored by freshman Brent Gates Jr. Junior defenseman Michael Brodzinski has one assist.

For more on Northeastern, read full series preview.

• Gophers' lines
Forwards (left wing, center, right wing)
Taylor Cammarata, Justin Kloos, Jack Ramsey
Leon Bristedt, Tommy Novak, Hudson Fasching
Brent Gates Jr., Vinni Lettieri, Connor Reilly
Ryan Reilly, Darian Romanko, Tyler Sheehy

Defensemen (left, right)
Nick Seeler, Ryan Collins
Jake Bischoff, Jack Glover
Jack Sadek, Michael Brodzinski

Goaltenders
Eric Schierhorn, Nick Lehr, Brock Kautz