This was an exciting, if a depressing, game.
 
Exciting, because it featured some great hockey. Depressing because
it all but destroys Minnesota's chances for a first place finish in
the WCHA.
 
Minnesota came out loaded for bear in the first. It was clear that
the Gophers were there to play, and took the play to the
hapless-looking Tigers for pretty much the entire period. The final
shots on goal were 15-6 in favor of Minnesota, but the play was more
uneven than that. CC got three power play shots in a penalty late in
the third, in a span of 30 seconds or so to keep it at all
respectable.
 
But little did anyone know (although I must admit, I suspected) that
the game was already decided. The final score was in doubt, but the
fact that Minnesota could only score on one of their many first
period chances (several fantastic opportunities came and went,
leaving us in the stands scratching our heads and asking "How could
he miss that?") was the deciding factor.
 
SInce Minnesota had been so kind as to give the Tigers a clinic on
how to play hockey in the first, CC came out and showed the Gophers
what they had learned in the second. Play was pretty even, with a
slight nod going to CC, for all but roughly 6:30 of the frame--during
which CC scored 3 goals. Again, the difference was that CC took
adavntage of all the chances they had.
 
The Gophers managed to score late in the second to keep things close,
but CC put the game away by scoring a goal to take a 2 goal lead,
4-2, late in the third. Many people started to leave Mariucci arena
at that point, and the frustrated student section taunted and jeered
them, instead of watching the game.
 
But the were right in guessing the game was over. True, there were
some late game dramatics, with a goal by Minnesota to bring it within
one, and some antics with the pulled goalie, but really the outcome
wasn't in doubt. Minnesota was unable to convert on the early
chances, and were also unable to convert on the late ones, as well.
 
I have been wondering: what exactly constitutes as offense?
Minnesota's offense has been around in the sense that there are many
chances, many excellent chances, in fact, in each game. They make the
plays happen, and get 30-50 shots on net in every game. Scoring goals
is the real problem.
 
And this was made most clear by the power play. At the end of the
game, Minnesota was officially mired in an 0 for 37 power play
drought. Yuck. Things were looking bad, and several of the fans left
the game muttering about the rotten Gophers, despite losing a one
goal game to one of the top teams in the country.
 
It seemed justified, though, because of the recent road trip
problems, the lack of scoring on the power play, and the fact that,
IMHO, Minnesota outplayed CC for most of the night. They played a
better game, and deserved the win: deserved it, that is, IF they
could manage to score.
 
We were hoping Saturday would deliver a different result, to at least
keep us in the hunt for second place. The Gopher fans wouldn't be
disappointed...
 
                                                Lee-nerd
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"Violence is the last resort of the incompetent." --Isaac Asimov