Written by
The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS - Senior goalie Kent Patterson made 20 saves Friday as Minnesota beat Sacred Heart 9-0. It was the Gophers' first opening-night shutout since 1985.
Fifteen players scored points for Minnesota (1-0-0), which outshot the Pioneers 47-20. Sacred Heart (0-1-0) goalie Steven Legatto made 38 saves.
Nick Bjugstad and Seth Ambroz scored two goals apiece for Minnesota. Blake Thompson, Mark Alt, Zach Budish and Nate Schmidt each assisted on two goals.
The Gophers kept the heat on all game, putting 19 shots on goal and scoring four times in the second period.
Patterson never faced more than nine shots in a period and just 11 shots over the last two.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)