Minnesota Gophers men's hockey enters a crucial weekend series against the Big Ten-leading Michigan State Spartans. This week's series could determine the Big Ten Regular Season Champion.
Gophers men's hockey faces its biggest challenge of the season this weekend with a trip to East Lansing to take on Big Ten -leading Michigan State . This marks the second meeting between the two teams this season, with the Spartans previously defeating the Gophers in a home series in December. Former Ohio State hockey player Paul Caponigri and studio host Rick Pizzo previewed the upcoming series on Big Ten Network, highlighting Minnesota's goaltending as a potential area of concern.
They noted the team's continued use of two goalies, Nathan Airey and Liam Souliere, with Airey making 14 starts compared to Souliere's 13. 'They have one little question mark and it's goaltending and it's because they're not playing one guy,' Caponigri said. 'That's always a question mark when you get to the NCAA (Tournament). Who is going to play that second game? Are you going to switch to this other guy when you win the first round?' Airey boasts an impressive 11-1-2 record in his 13 starts, saving 90.8% of shots faced, while Souliere holds an 8-4 record with a .932 save percentage. On the other side, Minnesota will face off against Michigan State's goaltender Trey Augustine, considered one of the best in the nation. Caponigri praised Minnesota's talent depth, stating, 'For Minnesota, from 1 through 19, they're as loaded as it gets talent wise,' but acknowledged that Michigan State lacks experience in reaching the Frozen Four. The series kicks off with a 6 p.m. CT game on Friday, broadcast on BTN+, followed by a 5 p.m. CT game on Saturday, televised on Big Ten Network. Both games hold significant weight in determining the Big Ten's regular season champion, with Minnesota trailing Michigan State by just one point. 'This will be the series that folks are not just looking at in the Big Ten. This will be the focus in the nation in terms of college hockey this weekend,' BTN host Dave Revsin remarked
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