Minnesota Beats Bemidji State 3-0
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota goalie Kent Patterson added another shutout to his record total and Zach Budish scored twice to lead Minnesota to a 3-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association win over Bemidji State on Friday.
Patterson, making his 53rd consecutive start in net, notched his school-record seventh shutout and his first since Nov. 18. Patterson wasn't really tested while making 13 saves. The Gophers outshot the Beavers 36-13.
Patterson won his 20th game, becoming the first Minnesota goalie since Kellen Briggs in 2005-06 to reach that plateau. Briggs won 21 games that season.
"It's great to be part of Gopher history," Patterson said. "These games are always tough. Our team did a good job of blocking pucks."
Budish scored twice in the first period to stake Minnesota to a 2-0 lead at the 9:13 mark of the first period.
Nick Bjugstad, who assisted on Budish's second goal, scored his 22nd of the year early in the second period to give the Gophers (20-11-1, 16-7-0) a three-goal lead.
Minnesota, which was swept last swept last weekend, has scored 117 goals this season, It scored 113 all of last year.
Kyle Rau had two assists.
Dan Bakala made 33 saves for the Beavers (15-13-3, 9-11-3), whose four-game unbeaten streak was stopped. Bakala is 6-3-1 in his last 10 games.
The win ensures that seventh-ranked Minnesota will maintain its lead in the WCHA standings.
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