Gopher fans:
 
After our beloved Gophers ran off 19 in a row without a defeat, they have
now dropped 4 in their last 6 games!  Is it time to hit the panick button?
Let's hope not.
 
Saturday nights game was quite a contest considering the crushing (8-3)
that the Gophers put on the Huskies on Friday night.  Both teams played
well and the Gophers had several opportunities to put the game away in the
3rd and OT but couldn't finish.  I think what this game illustrates, as do
games against UMD, that when teams consisting mainly of Minnesota born
players play against one another you can throw the records out the window.
Too many previous youth and high school hockey memories to draw from for
motivation.
 
Bonin's 8 point weekend puts him back into the lead in the national scoring
race.  I'm convinced that they will not be able to deny him the Hobey
Baker if he wins the national scoring title.  His set-up of the Gophers
third goal (Rassmussen) on Saturday night alone should have locked it up
for him!
 
I predict that Jeff Moen has played his last game as a Gopher.  IMO, he did
not look sharp on either Friday or Saturday night.  Woog should/will move
DeBus to #1 status and play him both games next weekend at Madison and on
from there to Cinncinati.  The Wooger doesn't appreciate 3 goals on 4 shots
no matter who or how they were scored.  Jeff could get one last start
against Alaska during the first round of the WCHA play-offs, but that's
because that series is in the bag before it begins.
 
No doubt the Gophers have one heck of a team, but they need more consistent
play from the second and third lines, and the defensemen need to add to the
offense.  During their 19 game run, lines two and three were contributing
and defensemen Crowley, Trebil, and LaFleur were scoring in bunchs.  Also,
the goaltending (i.e., DeBus) needs to play out of their heads again.
 
It would be a shame to see "another" great season bite the dust without a
real shot at the NC$$ trophy.
 
 
Steven M. Bernhardt
Post-Bacc Business & Marketing Education
University of Minnesota
 
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Go Gopher Pucksters!
 
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