Gopher men’s hockey beats St. Thomas 7-1

Homecoming on a college campus is usually thought of primarily as a football event. But for fans scrambling to get to the rink for an early start, before University Avenue was shut down for a parade on Friday, it was definitely a homecoming for the Minnesota Gophers men’s hockey team as well. And they put up a touchdown just for good measure in the spirit of the weekend.

Playing at 3M Arena at Mariucci for the first time since a March loss to Michigan in last season’s Big Ten playoffs, the Gophers made their neighbors from St. Paul feel unwelcome, overcoming an early deficit in a convincing 7-1 win over St. Thomas.

“The right guys got the puck tonight and made plays. We had some big-time goals out there, but a lot of the game was 50-50,” Gophers coach Bob Motzko said. “The coach in me thinks much more of the game was tight. Especially the second period was hard ice, but then some of our big boys made some plays and stretched that game.”

With the game facing off before sunset due to the parade-adjusted schedule, the Tommies made an early push and may have caught Minnesota slightly unprepared at the jump. But after Liam Malmquist’s early St. Thomas goal quieted the audience that was still settling into its seats, the home team brought a definite “enough of this nonsense” attitude to the ice.

In advance of his team’s home opener, Gophers coach Bob Motzko had raved about the chemistry and confidence they had developed in just four games.

And, despite the early deficit, Minnesota brought an abundance of both to the ice, improving to 4-1-0 on a pair of goals by lanky sophomore defenseman Sam Rinzel and 20 saves by goalie Nathan Airey. Rinzel, a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, led the Gophers in assists as a freshman with 26 but already has four goals in five games this season.

“I’m just getting in spots, shooting and kind of finishing my chances,” Rinzel said. “I’ve got some poise and confidence to keep my head up and not try to shoot it as quick, and be able to look for my spots.”

Ranked No. 5 and climbing in this week’s national polls, the Gophers saw five others chip in with single goals, as balanced scoring across four lines, along with defensive depth, is quickly becoming their hallmark.

“The only problem we have is we have to start a line, and that means one line has to be fourth,” Motzko said, stressing the interchangeable nature of the team’s 12 forwards. “We’re trying to build it in that we have to play selfless hockey and one line after the other with the attack. I love how hard they’re working. … and we have four lines that can get after it.”

The Tommies (1-2-1) got 26 saves from Jake Sibell, but could not muster a goal after Malmquist — an Edina native who transferred back to the Twin Cities after starting his college career at Wisconsin — got the early marker.

For the Gophers’ freshmen along with junior forward Matthew Wood — who transferred from UConn — it was their first game at 3M Arena at Mariucci, and they came away impressed by the noise of the near-sellout crowd, even with the early start.

“It was a lot of fun. It was a great crowd and a great experience,” said Wood, who had an assist and got his third goal of the season in the middle period, after spying a tiny gap above Sibell’s shoulder. “I saw enough. That’s all I needed.”

Rookie August Falloon got his first collegiate goal in the opening period as the Gophers bounced back from the early deficit to lead 3-1 after 20 minutes.

The teams meet again on Saturday at 8 p.m. with St. Thomas as the home team at Xcel Energy Center. After the early start on Friday, Motzko was asked about having to wait around to face the Tommies an hour later than normal the next night.

“They do too,” he said, of the Tommies. “And they’ve got a long drive home.”