Box Score - Text Box - Game Sheet

Nick Bjugstad scored a goal for the Gophers

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - For the first time since Dec. 30, the third-ranked Minnesota men's hockey team won on a Friday night, topping in-state rival St. Cloud State 2-1 in the first game of a home-and-home series at Mariucci Arena. The Gophers received goals from senior Jake Hansen and sophomore Nick Bjugstad and held the Huskies to a season-low 13 shots on goal on the night.

In the first period, Minnesota got off to a slow start and almost paid for it when SCSU forward David Eddy had a golden chance on a one-timer in front. The Gophers escaped danger, however, as goaltender Kent Patterson sprawled across the crease to make a huge save.

At 13:26, Hansen scored the game's first goal, taking an Erik Haula feed and walking in alone on Huskies' netminder Mike Lee from the right side. Lee made the initial stop, but Hansen batted the puck out of the air before it hit the ice to put Minnesota ahead 1-0.

Early in the second period, St. Cloud knotted the score, taking advantage of its second power play chance of the night.

With 16 seconds left on a Tom Serratore cross-checking penalty, Ben Hanowski roofed the puck over an outstretched Patterson and diving defenseman Nate Schmidt after receiving a back-door pass from Andrew Prochno. Hanowski fired a shot off the post 13 seconds earlier.

Bjugstad gave Minnesota the lead for good with 8:11 to play in the middle frame, just under five minutes after he rung backhanded rebound shot off the pipe.

After freshman Kyle Rau chipped the puck out of the Gopher zone past an SCSU defender, he joined Bjugstad and Hansen on a three-on-one rush. Hansen waited for the remaining defender to bite before setting up Bjugstad for a tap-in goal just outside of the goalmouth to Lee's left.

Hansen had a chance to cushion the lead with 4:44 to go in the period, but Lee snared the right winger's snap shot, preventing a rebound attempt.

The Huskies came close to tying the score for a second time with just under two minutes left in the stanza when Hanowski collected a rebound just outside of Minnesota's crease, but Patterson made an acrobatic save to preserve the lead heading into the third period.

The Gophers played stellar defense in the final 20 minutes, allowing just one shot on goal. Minnesota came up with six blocked shots in the third and kept the Huskies without a shot on back-to-back power plays chances in the final 5:55 to solidify the one-goal victory.

Patterson finished the night with 12 saves, a career-low for games in which he earned a win. St. Cloud's 13 shots were the lowest for a UM opponent since March 11, 2007 when Alaska-Anchorage had 12. The Gophers won that contest 3-1.

Minnesota and SCSU will play for the fourth and final time in 2011-12 tomorrow night at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.