The University of Minnesota football team may have come away from Ann Arbor with a certain brown jug this fall, but the Gopher men who play hockey and basketball did no celebrating in Michigan this weekend.
The Wolverines chased usually-reliable Minnesota goaltender Adam Wilcox from Saturday’s contest early in the second period by scoring their fifth goal on their way to a 7-5 victory.
It came less than 24 hours after Michigan’s overtime win on the same rink Friday night, and just a few hours after a the Wolverines downed the Gopher men’s basketball team, which was also visiting Ann Arbor Saturday.
FINAL: Michigan 7, @GopherHockey 5… but honestly, final score is deceiving. 4 goals in 7 1/2 min span late 1st basically iced it for Mich.
— Chris Long (@ChrisLongKSTP) January 10, 2015
Michigan scored two goals in the final minute of the first period to take a 4-1 lead into the intermission. After their fifth goal, Wilcox gave way to Nick Lehr, a Roseville native who was making his college hockey debut.
It was an uncharacteristic departure for Wilcox. The Star Tribune recently pointed out that statistically he stacks up as one of the top goaltenders in the history of the U of M hockey program.
Speaking of all-time best … with the win the Wolverines delivered coach Red Berenson his 800th coaching victory – something only three other college coaches have accomplished.
This one's for you Coach…congratulations on your 800th career win! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/6KKnModAkg
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) January 10, 2015
The Big Ten Network notes Berenson’s tenure at Michigan includes two national championships and a record streak of 22 straight appearances in the NCAA tournament.
It had been more than two decades, though, since one of his Wolverine teams had managed a weekend sweep of the Gophers, BTN says.
Minnesota was led offensively Saturday by Travis Boyd, who scored two goals, and Seth Ambroz, who had a goal and two assists.
The Gophers face Wisconsin next weekend in a pair of games in Minneapolis.
