St. Cloud State was hoping the new year would bring better fortunes, but Minnesota dashed those hopes quickly.
The Golden Gophers dominated the first period and then breezed to a 5-1 WCHA victory over St. Cloud State at the National Hockey Center. The loss, SCSU’s fourth in a row, drops its record to 4-13-1 (3-8-1 WCHA).
Minnesota outshot the Huskies 21-6 and converted its only power-play chance in jumping out to a 5-0 cushion after the first period.
St. Cloud State scored its only goal on a power play. The Huskies then outshot the Golden Gophers 13-8 in the final 30 minutes, but couldn’t push any more across.
Minnesota (13-2-3, 9-1-2 WCHA) outshot the Huskies 43-28. Ellen Brinkman came on in the first period and stopped all 24 shots she saw. Laura Gieselman took the loss stopping 14 shots in the first period.