UMDBulldogs.com Gopher Series Preview

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With five of the seven NCAA national championships split between them (3 for the Bulldogs, 2 for the Gophers), the historic rivalry between the unbeaten No. 1 University of Minnesota Duluth and the No. 10 University of Minnesota continues this weekend in Ridder Arena, in Minneapolis, Minn. The puck will drop in Friday's contest at 6:07 p.m., and again Saturday at 3:07 p.m.

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs have played only one other team as many times as they have hit the ice against the Gophers (Ohio State is the other). UMD and Minnesota have faced-off 38 times, with the Gophers having a 15-19-4 all-time edge. Last season, each team exchanged home series sweeps, knotting at 2-2 in regular WCHA play.

After Minnesota swept UMD 5-3 and 1-0 in Ridder in early November, the Bulldogs bounced back in a preview of what was to come when they smoked the Gophers 7-1 and 5-1 in Mars Lakeview Arena Feb. 17 and 18. Minnesota upended UMD in overtime 3-2 at Ridder on March 3 in the second round of the WCHA playoffs, but it was the Bulldogs that would get a call from the NCAA to join the playoffs despite the loss a week later enroute to their fourth NCAA Final Four championship game appearance.

LAST WEEK: Unbeaten UMD (5-0-1, 4-0) knocked off No. 2 Mercyhurst College last Sunday 3-1, and tied the Lakers Saturday, 1-1. Sophomore goaltender Kim Martin made a career-tying 34 saves in the 1-1 draw, and turned away another 28 shots in the Bulldogs Sunday win for 62 saves overall on the weekend. Sophomore forward Elin Holmlov scored two goals and two assists in the series, and the Bulldogs, who came from behind in both contests, scored two power play goals on the weekend to double their season total (4).

Minnesota (3-2-1. 1-2-1) earned its fifth-straight split against Ohio State last weekend in Columbus, Ohio, winning 7-4 on Oct. 19, but falling 4-1 on Oct. 20 for the split. Seven different players scored for the Gophers in Friday's win over the Buckeyes.

BULLDOG BITS: The Bulldogs are 0-5 against the Gophers in Minneapolis since Oct. 29, 2005, when they trashed Minnesota 6-0...UMD last held the No. 1 spot in the national polls on Dec. 6, 2005...Netminder Kim Martin, who tied her career-best in saves last Saturday against Mercyhurst, reached the 34 save mark previously last Nov. 3 against Minnesota in the Bulldogs 5-3 loss....Saara Tuominen and Laura Fridfinnson are No. 2 and No.3 in the WCHA in point scoring with six points each...Martin is second in the nation and first in the WCHA in save percentage (.986) and goals against average (0.39).

GOPHER NOTES: Senior forward Erica McKenzie ranks third in the nation in goals per game, averaging 1.17 with seven goals in six games...Goaltender Kim Hanlon faced a career-high 34 shots against UMD last Feb. 17 in the Bulldogs 7-1 win over the Gophers...The seven goals was the most goals Hanlon has allowed in her career...Minnesota features former UMD defensemen Rachel Drazan, who is in her first full season of elgiblity with the Gophers.