A lackluster season Minnesota men’s hockey team continued Friday night as the Gophers returned to Big Ten Conference play with a 3-0 loss at No. 9 Penn State.

The Nittany Lions scored the only goal they needed at 5:13 of the first period, but added another just over seven minutes later to take a 2-0 lead into the opening intermission. Just five seconds into the second period, the hosts scored again with what proved to be the final goal of the game.

Minnesota goaltender Luca Di Pasquo did what he could to keep the visitors in the game by making 37 saves, but it was not enough as none of the Gophers’ 27 shots got past Penn State netminder Joshua Fleming.

Minnesota has not won in three straight games, including an overtime loss at Ohio State on Dec. 5 and a 3-3 tie at Bemidji State on Jan. 2.

Penn State hosts the Gophers in their final regular-season matchup at 5 p.m. Saturday. The two teams split at Nov. 21-22 series at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

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