<body><div>SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The fifth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-1-0 overall) were too much for the St. Thomas men's hockey team (1-3-1 overall) to handle on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center getting three power play goals through in a 6-2 victory. Cooper Gay scored to begin the game from Mason Poolman and Ryan O'Neill. Liam Malmquist added his second goal of the series, shorthanded, from Alexander Tell. Aaron Trotter stopped 29 of the 35 shots he faced while his team spent 18 minutes down a skater on the penalty kill. Recap Just like in game one of the series, St. Thomas got on the board first at 4:19 when Cooper Gay tipped a top-of-circle-shot from Mason Poolman past the Gopher goaltender. Ryan O'Neill also assisted on the play, for his first point of the season. And then, just like last night, the Gophers struck for two goals in quick succession at 10:42 and 12:16 to take the lead. Brody Lamb scored the Gopher's second goal, third goal, and fourth goal, all on the power play in a 16-minute span for a natural hat trick. The first power play for the Gophers was a harbinger of unfortunate circumstances to follow. Lucas Wahlin was called for a trip at 11:05 and Minnesota took the lead one minute and 11 seconds later. Next, at 4:29 of the second period, Matthew Gleason was handed a major penalty and game misconduct for contact to the head. The Tommies were without one of their best skaters with over half the game to play and were forced onto the penalty kill for five minutes against one of the country's best offenses. Fifty-seven seconds into the kill, the Toms were called for a bench minor and the Gophers scored while up two skaters one minute and 17 seconds later. Minnesota added another on the Gleason major penalty power play with 50 seconds remaining on the advantage. The Gophers added a dagger goal at 19:29 to send the Tommies into the second intermission down 5-1. Soon after, Ryder Donovan was handed a major penalty for cross checking after the second period horn. The Tommies would start the third on another penalty kill. Aaron Trotter fended off four shots over four minutes before St. Thomas caught a break. Alexander Tell found Liam Malmquist sneaking, unguarded, behind the Gopher defense before the senior flipped the puck over the right shoulder of the goalie and into the net, shorthanded. Positive feelings were short-lived after the Gophers scored the game's final goal at 6:57 to bring the score to 6-2. Tommies Tidbits<ul><li>Liam Malmquist's goal was his second of the season, 12th as a Tommie and 18th of his career. He has five points through five games to start the season which leads the team along with Mason Poolman. It is the second time that he has scored one goal in each game of a series as a Tommie, the last was against Minnesota State last season. </li><li>Malmquist is 7th all-time in DI program history with 12 goals and tied for 6th with 32 points as a Tommie. </li><li>Cooper Gay has tied Lucas Wahlin for fourth most goals in program history with 19. </li></ul>First Time Since <ul><li>Liam Malmquist's shorthanded goal was the first for the Tommies since Cooper Gay's at Northern Michigan on January 20, 2024. (281 days) </li><li>Brody Lamb is the first opposing player to net more than one power play goal in a game against the Tommies since David Silye of Minnesota State did on November 5, 2022, coincidentally also in route to a natural hat trick. (722 days)</li><li>St. Thomas last lost both ends of a home-and-home last season on October 13-14 against Minnesota. (379 days) </li></ul>Up Next The Tommies head into CCHA competition with two home games against the Augustana Vikings (3-3-0 overall, 0-0-0 CCHA) first, on Friday, November 1 at 7:07 p.m. and then on Saturday the second at 6:07 p.m. St. Thomas is in search of its first win against Augustana. Follow AlongFor any and all information pertaining to the St. Thomas Men's Hockey team, follow along on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) at @TommieMHockey. TicketsSingle game tickets are still available for all Tommie Men's Hockey games at Saint Thomas Ice Arena. Click here for tickets!</div></body>

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Men’s Hockey dealt setback by Gophers

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The fifth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-1-0 overall) were too much for the St. Thomas men's hockey team (1-3-1 overall) to handle on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center getting three power play goals through in a 6-2 victory. Cooper Gay scored to begin the game...