Sports

U faces UMD with same top lines as opening weekend

Gophers coach Don Lucia likes the depth he has on this team. Can it match Bulldogs on their home ice?

By Roman Augustoviz

October 14, 2011 at 11:09PM

Gophers coach Don Lucia with his team last weekend vs. Sacred Heart. (Star Tribune file/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Gophers' lines for Friday's game at Minnesota Duluth:

LW-C-RW

Kyle Rau-Nick Bjugstad-Zach Budish ... actually listed fourth on line chart, but who is kidding who? This is Gophers top line and it had four goals and three assists opening weekend.

Sam Warning-Erik Haula-Jake Hansen ... best line of first weekend with six goals and 10 assists. Haula and Hansen especially seem to be clicking together.

Nate Condon-Taylor Matson-Seth Ambroz ... Dangerous third line.

Tom Serratore-Travis Boyd-Nico Sacchetti ... Boyd and Sacchetti both sat out one game last weekend. Coach Lucia using this line to plug in different forwards.

D-men

Ben Marshall-Mark Alt ... Speed and strength combo.

Jake Parenteau-Nate Schmidt ... Lucia keeps saying good things about Schmidt, who had three assists first weekend.

Seth Helgeson-Justin Holl ... Two big guys. Will Helgeson develop into big hitter this season?

Goalie

Kent Patterson ... What more can Patty do? Hasn't given up a goal in 120 minutes. How long will that streak last? Did I jinx him? Doubt he reads my pregame posts, so he doesn't know I am writing about him,