University of Minnesota at Michigan State: Lines, open thread and how to watch

Opening the season with four straight home game puts the University of Minnesota Gophers hockey program as early favorites to win the Big Ten this year. The team hasn’t gone 4-0-0 to start the season since 2014-15.

At the core of this hot start is a defense that won’t quit. Three of the team’s defenders were named to Team USA’s preliminary roster for the 2021 World Juniors Championship, including Ducks prospect and Minnesota native, Jackson LaCombe.

The Spartans, meanwhile, having started out 2-1-1 on the year. One area both teams have excelled in this season has been the faceoff circle, with MSU ranking first with 61.8 percent success and Minnesota second with 61.5. Minnesota will have to battle for the puck tonight.

Lines

GOPHERS

Nathan Burke — Samuel Walker — Blake McLaughlin
Jonny Sorensen — Ben Meyers — Bryce Brodzinski
Sampo Ranta — Scott Reedy — Mason Nevers
Cullen Munson — Jaxon Nelson — Jack Perbix

Matt Staudacher — Jackson LaCombe
Ryan Johnson — Brock Faber
Mike Koster — Robbie Stucker
Carl Fish

Jack LaFontaine
Jared Moe
Justen Close

SPARTANS

Charlie Combs — Josh Nodler — A.J. Hodges
Mitchell Lewandowski — Kristof Papp — Nicolas Müller
Jagger Joshua — Tommy Apap — Brody Stevens
Adam Goodsir — Mitchell Mattson — Kyle Haskins
Austin Kamer

Cole Krygier — Dennis Cesana
Christian Krygier — Aiden Gallacher
Nash Nienhuis — Tommy Miller

Drew DeRidder
Pierce Charleson
Jon Mor

How to Watch

Puck drop is at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Detroit and streamed on the FOX Sports App.