They have saved the BEST FOR LAST! What a relief to see the Gophers play two
great games in a row! I don't know if Woog has FINALLY hit on the right line
combinations or what....but everything clicked!!
 
Friday's contest was a great game although Denver coach Frank Serratore was
quoted in the Star Tribune as saying "I thought it was a boring game. A
yawner. They got the goals they had to have early, then skated up and down the
ice for 40 minutes." Senior goalie Tom Newman thought that quote was funny and
insisted he wasn't bored. "How could you be bored playing a hockey game?" he
said. ;-) Newman got the shut-out, his second of the year I believe.
 
Denver goalie Brian Schoen looked shakey early on then tightened up to play
well in the second and third periods. Schoen is a great goalie if he's ON, but
if not.....
 
Minnesota had two goals disallowed in the game and one, which the officials
had deemed been kicked in by a Gopher, actually went in off a DU defenseman's
skate. That disallowed goal was loudly protested by the Gopher captains to no
avail. The officials, Bill Waisanen and Tom Goddard had an off weekend. This
is the second time we have seen them in Mariucci and the first time they were
really great. This weekend, the pair have fallen in with the likes of the
other mediocre referees. Sad but true.
 
In Saturday's rematch, the Gophers came out HOT and stayed that way for THREE
whole periods! Amazing!! Four goals in the first period, two in the second and
four in the third! WOW. An excellent effort.
 
Sophomore Jeff Callinan was in goal and did a good job. A friend who sits in
my section, was wondering, about halfway through the first period if we were
going to "skunk" Denver two nights in a row....I asked him what he had said,
not believing that he had brought it up SO EARLY in the game. Then he said he
was thinking that we were going to get another SHUT-OUT! I had a fit, because
once you say that word....it's doomed. And sure enough a minute or two later,
Denver scored. Quite a few people in my section stood up and pointed at him
yelling "It's all your fault!!" It was pretty funny. ;-)
 
Nine different players scored the 10 goals on Saturday and the team really had
a great time. The fourth line had five goals for the weekend and four were on
Saturday night! Woog is now calling his "lines" - "units" not wanting to
differentiate who the top line REALLY is. The scoring was very balanced
between all four "units" on Saturday. (So watch out Wisconsin! ;-))
 
Saturday night marked the last regular season home Saturday night game. I was
doubly glad we swept the Pioneers, because we got to hear the "Battle Hymn of
the Republic" played during the last minute of the second game one more time.
The band only plays the Battle Hymn when we win BOTH games and get a sweep. It
was also fun to have the players salute the crowd with their sticks too,
(which they only do after a sweep).
 
At the local hangout after the game (Stub and Herb's) we had a rowdy time in
the back room. It was probably the only time all season that the mood was up
and festive after two decisive wins. Our waitress, Katy was wondering where
her buddy Charlie Shub was!!! We explained he had only been visiting. (I still
plan to take her a copy of your report Charlie!!) Erik had a really great time
as for the first time he didn't have to drive himself and Paula home...I was
the "designated driver" in my brand new 1993 Saturn which I got last weekend.
 
Now it's on to Wisconsin to take two from the Badgers. (I hope)
-Carol