> Gophers face rocky road to playoffs
> GREGG WONG STAFF WRITER
>
> Only one-third of the schedule has been played, but already University of
> Minnesota hockey coach Doug Woog is thinking ahead to March.
>
> It's not because he is eager for the season to end, although his team's 4-8 start might
> be reason enough.
>
> It's because that poor start makes the road to the NCAA tournament that much
> more difficult.
>
> The Gophers have played in a record 13 consecutive NCAA tournaments, including
> the past 12 under Woog. In many of those seasons, the Gophers knew by February
> they would be in the tournament because their record was good enough.
>
> This doesn't look like one of those seasons.
>
> ``The big picture is kind of drizzly,'' Woog said Sunday, still reeling from Saturday's
> 4-3 overtime loss to Colorado College that extended the Gophers' losing streak to
> five games.
>
> ``We have to think we can get in (the NCAAs) by having a good last two-thirds of
> the season. It's a steep hill to climb, which means we have to have a run of wins.
> You don't want to put it all on winning the Final Five.''
>
> The four Division I conferences each receive two automatic bids to the 12-team
> NCAA tournament -- for the regular-season and league playoff champions.
>
> With their 3-7 start in the 28-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association season,
> winning the regular-season title for a fifth time under Woog seems unlikely.
>
> Unless the Gophers turn it around and win about 20 of their remaining 24
> regular-season games, it would mean they would have to win the WCHA's Final
> Five playoff tournament to return to the NCAA playoffs.
>
> ``Are we out of the final 12? Right now, yes,'' Woog said. ``That means we
> probably need to win these next two games, because not only will that help our
> record but also our strength of schedule (part of the selection criteria).''
>
> The Gophers play at Michigan, a perennial power, Friday, and at No. 1-ranked
> Michigan State on Sunday in the annual College Hockey Showcase. A pair of
> victories would be critical.
>
> ``It's not like we've been playing terribly,'' Woog said. ``For one thing, our schedule
> probably has bitten us some. We've played good teams -- Maine, North Dakota,
> CC, maybe Wisconsin -- and we've played with them for the most part. We're not
> miles away.
>
> ``I don't mind the challenges because we always play a tough schedule. But one thing
> you hope for is that the guys get rewarded for a good night. That hasn't happened.''
>
> Woog generally is pleased with his team's effort and quite pleased with the
> development of his freshmen -- Erik Westrum, Aaron Miskovich and Dylan Mills, in
> particular.
>
> But he bemoans his team's misfortune, mistakes that are leading to opponents' goals,
> and a miserable power play.
>
> The lack of power-play production is hurting the Gophers. They were 0 for 8 against
> CC and are just 5 for 56 (8.9 percent) for the season. Last season, they led the
> WCHA with a 27.4 power-play percentage.
>
> ``We probably aren't going to win any games until the power play gets fixed,'' Woog
> said. ``We'd probably be at least a .500 team if it was average. But so far, it's been
> a nail in our coffin.''
 
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