djoles@startribune Gophers men's hockey game, vs US U-18 team, exhibition game ORG XMIT: MIN1411211954125935](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/3IFSKRKFHXVI6WJMEZGXT4WY5M.jpg?&w=1080)
The Gophers will be without standout junior goaltender Adam Wilcox for Thursday night's series opener against Michigan State. Freshman Nick Lehr will make his first career start in the net.
Coach Don Lucia said Wilcox is "day-to-day," but didn't offer any more details on the health of the reigning Big Ten MVP.
Wilcox had only given up 11 goals over the last six games and held opponents below two goals in five of the six, including a shutout of Michigan's nation-best offense.
His absence doesn't come at a good time as the Gophers are fighting to defend their Big Ten regular-season championship. Michigan State is also an opponent that has given the Gophers problems over the past two years, especially in shootouts.
Three of the six games the team's have played since the formation of the hockey conference have gone to overtime and eventually required shootouts. Each time the Spartans won the shootout and claimed the extra point in the Big Ten standings.
The Gophers are 0-5 in conference shootouts since joining the Big Ten, but despite the lack of success Lucia said the team isn't spending extra time practicing their skills for the postgame showcase. He's more concerned about refining the penalty kill or other areas of the team's game.
The Gophers showed signs of improvement during their last shootout at Wisconsin a month ago. The teams went seven rounds before the Badgers pulled away for the extra point.
Every point has extra value with three weeks in the regular season remaining and four teams within two points of first place in the conference standings. The Gophers' three shootout losses this season equate to three lost points, the value of a Big Ten victory.
