Gophers overwhelm Wolverines in 6-0 win

Sophomore goaltender Nathan Airey earned his first collegiate shutout as the Minnesota men’s hockey team blanked visiting Michigan 6-0 in a Big Ten contest Friday night.

Airey made 32 saves as the Gophers blitzed the Wolverines with three goals apiece in the first and second periods. All six goals were even-strength tallies.

Connor Kurth gave Minnesota the lead for good with the game’s first goal at 10:55 of the opening period. August Falloon followed suit a minute later, with Matthew Wood notching the first of his two goals in the closing minute of the initial frame to send the Gophers to the first intermission with a 3-0 lead.

Minnesota kept up the pressure in the second, with Aaron Huglen and Jimmy Snuggerud scoring at 16:10 and 13:26 of the middle period, respectively. Wood’s second goal of the game at 12:31 finished off the offensive onslaught before the third period passed quietly and quickly.

The Gophers host Michigan for round two of their conference showdown at 5 p.m. Saturday.