Recap: Gophers Win Fourth-Straight Conference Crown | http://t.co/D2JFNUTlML pic.twitter.com/eHf8pGN2MS
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) March 15, 2015
The Minnesota men’s hockey team ended its regular season on a high note – earning its fourth-straight regular season conference championship and clinching its second straight Big Ten title on a 6-2 win over Penn State Saturday night.
Hudson Fasching led the Gophers with two goals and two assists; Kyle Rau had two goals and Mike Reilley made two assists. Fasching hit a career-high four points in a game for a sophomore, according to Gopher Sports.
Six seniors, four straight regular season conference wins, back-to-back #B1G regular season champs. #ThankYou pic.twitter.com/VTAFNjtawK
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) March 15, 2015
Penn State put the first score on the board at 15:16 into the game. The Gophers gained the lead and control with two goals in a 20-second span to round out the first period.
The rest of the scoring came in the second period for both teams.
Minnesota goalie Adam Wilcox had 29 saves and earned his 71st win, which is the most career wins of all active NCAA goaltenders, according to Gopher Sports.
Rau, a senior who was honored as part of senior night, set an NCAA best for game-winning goals. He scored the game winner Saturday night, the 22nd of his career out of 66 total goals. That’s the most of all active NCAA skaters, according to Gopher Sports.
Rau is in the Minnesota record book as well; he’s the 19th Gopher in overall scoring with 162 points.
The Gophers now have the top seed in the Big Ten Ice Hockey Tournament at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. They’ll play Ohio State or Penn State in Friday’s semifinal.
Scoring Summary
1st period: 15:16 – PSU – Gardiner (4) – Assists: Saar and Jensen
1st period: 17:49 MINN – Ambroz (11) – Assists: Boyd and M. Reilly
1st period: 18:09 MINN – Fasching (11) – Assist: Birschoff
2nd period: 4:32 – MINN – Rau (18) – Assists: Fasching and M. Reilly
2nd period: 6:30 – PSU – Robinson (4) – Assists: Varley and Glen
2nd period: 7:33 – MINN – Collins (1) – Assists: Isackson
2nd period: 13:44 – Rau (19) – Assists: Fasching and Bristedt
2nd period: 16:09 – Fasching (12) – Assists: Bristedt
