The title says it so matter of fact, but I think everyone had a good idea that it might play out that way. Minnesota took care of business on the road again, beating Minnesota State 6-0 in Mankato on Saturday afternoon. Noora Raty was able to put an exclamation point on the weekend sweep with her 35th career shutout.
The Gophers got a couple of power plays in the first period and cashed in on one of them. Milica McMillen put home a one-timer past Danielle Butters to give the Gophers the lead. It would be her seventh goal of the season and would also turn out to be the game winner in this contest. The period saw a lot of shots, with Minnesota having a 18-11 advantage.
In the second period, a couple of Hannah Brandt goals bookended a Megan Bozek tally. The first Brandt goal is where Kessel got her second assist of the night and her 200th career point. She now one of only 24 players to ever reach that milestone and one of just six Gophers to ever do it.
Megan Bozek, who was shooting the puck extremely well, got her second goal of the game at the seven minute mark of the third period. Rachael Bona would close out the games scoring with her 10th of the season on what looked like was supposed to be a pass off the pads of relief goalie Erin Krichiver. The 6-0 win kept alive the streaks of consecutive wins and consecutive road wins. The Gophers now have 32 straight wins, which ties Wisconsin for the longest unbeaten streak in NCAA history. It's alomst perfect that the Gophers travel to Madison next weekend to play those same Badgers.
In other WCHA action:
-Minnesota-Duluth earned a sweep over Bemidji State with a 4-2 win on Saturday in Duluth.
-Madison Packer scored late to give Wisconsin a 2-1 win over North Dakota and get the split in the series.
-Ohio State was able to get a tie and a win in a tough series with St. Cloud State this weekend. Saturday's final was 3-1.
Thanks for reading!
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