I think Minnesota finally learned their lesson. Perhaps it is too early to say that, but the Gophers looked awfully convincing, for the first time skating to a definitive lead in the first period, a lead that would be enough to win them the game: 3-0 at the end of the first. Once again, as has already been mentioned, the officiating was bad. But in the first period, it went in Minnesota's favor. It almost seemed, in fact, to make up for yesterday's third period debacle. I am not claiming that the refs did any sort of intentional penalty calling against one team or another on either afternoon; rather, it was my mistake for being upset yesterday. I should have realized, as I have today, that the calls for/against a team will even out--in a series, not necessarily in a game. So the early calls went in the Gopher's favor, which allowed them to dominate early, something which doesn't seem to happen often. The whole game was Minnesota, with a few brief but bright flashes from the Huskies. I can't help but wonder what Coach Woog said to them in the locker room between Saturday and Sunday. I was looking at the game, and trying to figure out what they did differently, and came up with a few things. -Minnesota kept the puck off the boards. This is something they had not done in the previous three games, in which they struggled. Every time I saw the puck going for the boards, I said to myself, "Get it off the boards, get it off the boards!" This mantra seemed to help, because in many cases, a quick pass got it out to a skating player. -Passes were crisper, sharper, and more thought out. One of the biggest problems in Saturday's game was the lack of finished passes. One player begins a pass, which the receiver couldn't hold onto. Under the stick or over, or just plain out of reach--almost no passes seemed to connect. But Sunday was different. Players seemed to make more of an effort to make the passes so the receiver could handle them--at first. Then it became automatic. Minnesota really started to fly at that point, and there was precious little Tech could do then. -Even strength play. Only two goals, I believe, were power play goals, and it was very gratifying to see the team put some in playing five on five. This was definitely a weak point in past games. Not everything was peaches and cream, however. There were some disturbing trends. With the lead well in hand, the Gophers had about 1:20 in a 5 on 3 situation, which they handled miserably. They just took the wrong approach to the whole thing. The Tech defenders sat deep in their own zone, and when the Gophers played dump and chase, they had nothing to chase, because a defender was back to kick it into Gopher territory. The situation was ripe for bringing the puck into the zone in a controlled fashion, and Minnesota didn't seem up to it. Plus there were plenty of blown chances by the Gophers. There were a few shorthanded situations, and a few breakaways that just poorly handled. For example, #11 Bobby Dustin had the puck all by himself, skating in on the goalie (I think it was in the third), and on the shot, he missed the net by a pretty large margin. Sure, the Gophers had a substantial lead, but what happens if he gets that opportunity in a one goal game? Or when the Gophs are down? There were opportunities that should have been capitalized on, even if it means just putting a strong shot on net. But overall, it was a gratifying game--the kind of game we Gopher fans have suspected the team capable of playing, when they are really clicking. Once again, the shorthanded staff played big, killing off all penalties, which must put them atop the Div I teams in penalty killing percentage (above 95% now). Plus two power play goals, and a heap load of momentum and confidence going into two tough games against two of the toughest teams in the country next week: Michigan and Michigan State. With the play of Wisconsin of late, I can't help but think these will be the premiere games in the country over Thanksgiving (not to take anything away from a potential BU/Maine matchup in the Great Western Freezeout). Plus, a tip of the hat to Michigan Tech, who played a heck of a series. Good hockey (if a bit rough on Sunday). They got two important league points on Friday, and was a spoiler on Minnesota's supposed home ice advantage. I look forward to the games at the Winter Carnival early next year. A couple of league notes: Note that the three teams toughest at home in the WCHA, who went undefeated at home until the last two or three weeks in the season last year, have all lost at home already this year: Northern Michigan, Minnesota, and St. Cloud. St. Cloud has had a terrible start, and I feel sorry for them. But don't count them out just yet. I suggest they will still get their act together, and make a serious run at the top come January. Lee-nerd [log in to unmask] "Violence is the last resort of the incompetent." --Isaac Asimov