Scott Brown

After a stretch of inconsistent play to close out the regular season, Minnesota might be warming up again at just the right time. Playing before a record crowd in Friday’s late semifinal at the Xcel Energy Center, sophomore center Blake Wheeler notched a hat trick, including the game winner, as the Golden Gophers topped Wisconsin … Read more

Hold onto the trophy: the NCAA championship hasn’t been vacated quite yet. Thursday’s WCHA play-in game was the first of three the Wisconsin Badgers need to win this weekend to get a shot at defending their national title. And with a 4-0 victory over Michigan Tech at the Xcel Energy Center, UW completed the first … Read more

One night after Alaska-Anchorage hemmed in Minnesota’s offense to pull off an upset victory, the Gophers gave the Seawolves a little of their own medicine. Sunday evening at Mariucci Arena, UAA managed just 12 shots on goal and Minnesota scored twice late in the game to take a 3-1 win, sending the Gophers to the … Read more

There will be a Game 3 Sunday at Mariucci Arena. With a stirring effort, Alaska-Anchorage shocked second-ranked and top-seeded Minnesota Saturday in a 2-1 overtime win, forcing a rubber match to decide their WCHA first-round playoff series. Luke Beaverson scored the game winner for the Seawolves, who rallied from a one-goal deficit after two periods. … Read more

After playing Alaska-Anchorage to a stalemate halfway through the game, No. 2 Minnesota broke out the offensive doldrums late in the second period, scoring two goals a minute and a half apart to take control of its first-round playoff contest en route to a 6-2 win Friday. Jay Barriball scored two goals and Ben Gordon … Read more

In a game whose meaning was best understood in terms of momentum and morale, Michigan Tech built a four-goal lead and withstood a Minnesota rally to take a 5-4 win in the final game of the regular season for both teams. MTU’s victory split the weekend series, one night after Minnesota clinched the MacNaughton Cup … Read more

After waiting a week, the Minnesota Golden Gophers weren’t going to let any more time go by without claiming the MacNaughton Cup. The Gophers, who were temporarily denied the WCHA regular-season title last weekend because of a sweep by St. Cloud State, outgunned Michigan Tech Friday night for a 3-1 win at Mariucci Arena to … Read more

Late in the second period Saturday, with Minnesota leading St. Cloud State and dominating play, it looked like the Gophers would be hoisting the MacNaughton Cup an hour later in front of their home fans. The Huskies, however, would have none of it, scoring four unanswered goals and holding off a Minnesota six-on-four in the … Read more

In the opening game of the only regular-season series between Minnesota and North Dakota, the red-hot Fighting Sioux stayed that way. Defenseman Robbie Bina scored a momentum-changing shorthander late in the first period; Jonathan Toews notched the go-ahead goal and added two assists; Ryan Duncan scored two goals and also had an assist; and Philippe … Read more

This one had it all. One night after a defensive struggle, Denver and Minnesota played a barnburner with a little bit of everything: 81 combined shots on goal; 115 minutes in penalties that included two game misconducts; a hat trick; a spirited rally from a three-goal deficit; and plenty of bad blood. After the commotion … Read more

When opposing teams take the ice with the nation’s fourth- and sixth-ranked scoring defenses, a tight finish would seem to be in order, and Friday’s contest between No. 1 Minnesota and No. 5 Denver did not disappoint. DU’s Geoff Paukovich scored the game’s only goal, Glenn Fisher stopped all 31 Gopher shots, and the Pioneers … Read more

Down three after one period of play Friday night, the top-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers took control with five straight goals, then saw the Minnesota State Mavericks produce some magic of their own. The Mavericks scored the last two goals of regulation, forcing a 5-5 tie that was nowhere near over until the last second ticked … Read more

Behind a 25-save performance by Kellen Briggs and goals from Alex Goligoski and Jay Barriball, Minnesota held off Wisconsin for a 2-1 series-opening victory Saturday night at Mariucci Arena. “When you play Wisconsin and [netminder Brian] Elliott, there’s such a small margin,” said Minnesota head coach Don Lucia. “Your goaltender can’t give up any softies.” … Read more

On March 17, Minnesota and St. Cloud State played one of the most memorable games in WCHA Final Five history, a track meet that SCSU won in overtime, overcoming a late Minnesota rally to advance to the tournament title game. Fifteen goals were scored that evening, and if Friday’s game at Mariucci Arena was any … Read more