The Gophers are nearly perfect when striking first.
Scoring the game's first goal has produced a 12-0-4 record for the Gophers and led to 5-3 victory over Michigan on Friday night.
Being consistent in this area has been an issue for the Gophers, though. For most of the first half of the season they played from behind. That's beginning to wear on the No. 2-ranked team in college hockey.
"Last weekend, with Wisconsin, we got swept there and we're not happy about that and trying to come back," Gophers freshman forward Hudson Fasching said. "We had a lot of energy [on Friday] and were ready to go."
A quick start will once again be important against the No. 2 Wolverines. The scouting report on Michigan recognized the Wolverines are used to winning the first 10 minutes of a game. On Friday night, though, it was just the opposite.
The Gophers dominated the first period and went into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead and a 16-5 shots on goal advantage.
"The one thing when you play Michigan, they usually have a great 10-minute game to start out," Gophers coach Don Lucia said. "They've been a great first period team all year long. We want to make sure we match that first-period energy and we were able to do that [on Friday]"
Michigan coach Red Berenson said his team didn't start on time in the series opener and they were chasing the Gophers the first 20 minutes. Expect the Wolverines to change that on Saturday.
