No. 4 Gophers roll Michigan State 5-1

The No. 4-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers clinched their second consecutive sweep with a 5-1 victory over the Michigan State Spartans.

Minnesota (18-5) has now won four straight after getting swept by the Wisconsin Badgers two weeks ago.

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The Gophers burst out to a 4-0 lead in the first period. Cullen Nelson finished off a perfect pass from Jaxon Nelson for a score with 9:42 left in the first period.

Then came Minnesota scoring avalanche. Scott Reedy scored on a breakaway (5:58), Ben Meyers tipped in a shot (4:18) and Jack Perbix found the back of the net with 1:28 left in the first frame.

Sammy Walker added a wide-open goal in the second period and the Spartans scored their only goal later in the period.

The Gophers are back in action on Friday, March 5, for the start of a two-game home series against the Michigan Wolverines. Minnesota was supposed to play a road series against the Penn State Nittany Lions next weekend but those games have been postponed.