Two Wisconsin players honored after split with Gophers

Mark Zengerle, who who a hand in all five Wisconsin goals, is the WCHA's offensive player of the week.

The sophomore center had a goal, his 12th of the season, and three assists on Friday as the Badgers beat the Gophers 4-1 at Mariucci Arena. He also had an assist on Saturday when Wisconsin lost 2-1.

The 5-11, 180 pound Zengerle is from Rochester, N.Y. He has 37 assists, which ties him for first in Division I hockey. His 49 points are the fourth most nationally.

Teammate Josh Rumpel, a 6-3, 180-pound freshman from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, was the rookie of the week. He stopped 56 of 59 shots against the Gophers. He had a shutout in the first game of the series until Nico Sacchetti of the Gophers scored with 1:02 left.

Rumpel is 6-5-2 with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.

GOALIES SHARE AWARD FOR 'D'

Sophomore Josh Thorimbert of Colorado College and junior Mike Lee of St. Cloud State, two goalies, are the co-defensive players of the week.

Lee, 6-1, 190 from Roseau, was in the nets as the Huskies beat UMD 2-1 and tied the Bulldogs 3-3 in overtime. Lee had a .940 save percentage.

Defenseman Nate Schmidt of the Gophers also was nominated for this award. Schmidt scored the game-winner in the Gophers' comeback victory on Saturday.

SECOND PERIOD GAME CHANGERS

The Gophers won Saturday's game with two third-period goals to beat Wisconsin 2-1. But the score could have been a lot different than 1-0 Badgers after the middle period.

Erik Haula had a wide open net with maybe seven, eight minutes in the period, and a Badger tied up his stick.

After that, at mid-ice Kyle Rau, the smallest Gopher, gave 6-4 freshman Joe LaBate a heavy hit. LaBate got up quickly, then went down again, before making his way to the bench. Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves argued for a penalty. So did his players.

None was called. Back to back penalties on the Gophers could have meant trouble.

WHERE'S THE FONS?

Alex Fons, who was a back-up goalie for the Gophers last season, is having a good season for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in the NAHL. He was listed as an honorable mention in the weekly news release that named the league's three stars.

Fons joined the Gophers the second half of the 2010-11 season after Alex Kangas had season-ending hip surgery. He did not play in any games.

THREE STARS LEADERS

After every Gophers' home game, the three stars are named. Can you guess who is leading in the competition after the regular season?

The player named first star gets five points, the second star three and the third star one. The leaders:

1st 2nd 3rd

Nick Bjugstad 2 4 3 25

Erik Haula 2 2 -- 16

Kent Patterson 2 1 2 15

Kyle Rau 1 1 3 11