Minnesota vs. Michigan State

[OldTimePuck00]

First series of the regular season for both teams. Michigan St. took last years series with a 4-3 win and a 4-4 tie in OT.

Come Sunday morning, what's the result of the series??

[MNHockeyFan]

Michigan State, Gophers' weekend foe, opens with 6-1 exhibition win

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs ... 06144&cr=1

[jancze5]

Gophers 7-5 in a goalfest in game 1, Rau with 2 goals 4 assists but the new goalie gets welcomed to the NCAA

Gophers 3-1 in game 2, all four goals in the third period, empty netter for the 3rd..Defense steps up after Guentzel tweaks following the 5 goal letdown

[observer]

Wow. Your crystal ball is plugged in.

[OldTimePuck00]

Gophers 7-5 in a goalfest in game 1, Rau with 2 goals 4 assists but the new goalie gets welcomed to the NCAA

Gophers 3-1 in game 2, all four goals in the third period, empty netter for the 3rd..Defense steps up after Guentzel tweaks following the 5 goal letdown

Bold prediction, but regardless of the D-pairings I doubt the Gophs D will give up five.

Similarly, Michigan State's got some good young D and a few vets on the blue line, so 7 goals is also unlikely IMO.

But anything can happen! First game of the year and career for all the new comers so nerves could be a factor.

[clutterbuck22]

Was this big of a rout suspected? Could see one game being a blow out but thought with the way this series has been before Michigan State would at least have been competitive.

[MNHockeyFan]

Was this big of a rout suspected? Could see one game being a blow out but thought with the way this series has been before Michigan State would at least have been competitive.

MSU has a young team with I believe 9 new players, so they are down compared to the level they've been at the past few years. Meanwhile, the Gophers are looking very very strong this year and I think it's safe to say better than last season, when they won the league title and made it to the Frozen Four. So yes most people expected the Gophers to win both games but I'd say that the margins of victory were probably a little more than most expected.