Headline: PUCK27B.STO Publish Date: 03/27/1995 Matthew Cross Staff Reporter Madison, Wis. -- The Gophers' 5-2 victory against Colorado College on Saturday at the NCAA Hockey West Regionals meant more than advancement to the NCAA Final Four next weekend in Providence, R.I., and a chance to play Boston University. In winger Nick Checco's words, it was sweet revenge. Minnesota's only loss in its last eight games was a 5-4 overtime heartbreaker to Colorado College in the semifinals of the WCHA Final Five. The Gophers brought a 4-1 lead into the third period of that game. After the Gophers beat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 3-0 on Friday at the regionals, they earned a chance to face Colorado College once again. And seeing the Tigers on the opposite end of the rink when it mattered most is exactly the scenario Minnesota would have chosen. ``(Colorado College) is who we all wanted to play,'' Checco said. ``We were all cheering when we saw the seedings (because the Tigers) did a lot of talking when they started to come back against us last week.'' Minnesota anticipated its battle with the Tigers so much that many feared the Gophers would overlook RPI, which matched Minnesota's speed and agility more evenly than any team they've faced all season. But the Gophers dominated the Engineers, recording 53 shots on goal and limiting their penalties to a measly six infractions for 12 minutes, which was 17 minutes less than the Engineers' total. RPI's coach, Dan Fridgen, said his team was doomed from the beginning. ``Right off the opening face-off we fell behind,'' Fridgen said. ``I don't think there was one time tonight where they didn't attack our blue line with speed.'' Ironically, Minnesota's offense was a direct result of dominating defense -- an area the Gophers call their season trademark. RPI could only muster 22 shots on goal, including just four shots in the first period and six in the third. Colorado College, which is easily the WCHA's most offensively explosive team, had a mediocre 31 shots on goal. The Gophers' defense shut down the Tigers, leaving them in wonderment. <%-2>``I'm not really sure what happened to us,'' Tigers senior R.J. Enga said. ``(The Gophers) are a pretty good defensive hockey team -- my hat's off to them for the way they play defense. They were all over us. They had a stick in our gut the whole time.''<%0> Clearly, the Tigers were not the same team on Saturday that they had been for most of the season. ``Did we play our best tonight?'' Colorado College coach Don Lucia said. ``Probably not, but I don't think we've played well down the final stretch of the season. Maybe we were playing our best hockey in November.'' Lucia suspected his team's lack of tournament experience played a role in their loss. ``We didn't gain any experience last year, (and) it was a great experience to be in the NCAAs this year,'' Lucia said. ``But Minnesota knows what it means to get to the show, and our kids don't yet.'' The Gophers players credited their strong defensive standing as being the key to tournament play, and it all starts with goaltending. Senior goaltender Jeff Callinan was brilliant as usual this weekend. He stopped 51 of 53 shots in the two games and earned his second shutout of the season in beating RPI. <%-2>Despite losing the game, RPI's junior goaltender Mike Tamburro recorded 50 saves in the game against the Gophers, and he predicted a strong NCAA tournament for Minnesota.<%0> ``I think they're going to score some goals in this tournament and do pretty well,'' Tamburro said. Minnesota certainly showed offensive punch, but the sources of its scoring were a surprise. Before the postseason started, the Gophers thought they would have to rely on offensive production from Brian Bonin and Justin McHugh. If Minnesota coach Doug Woog knew he would get only two points from Bonin and none from McHugh, he might have decided to save himself the trip. But wingers Checco and Dave Larson came through in a big way offensively. Checco is fast becoming the Gophers' ``Mr. Postseason.'' Last year he had 12 total points, and six of them came in the playoffs when he scored five goals and added an assist. So far in this season's NCAA tournament alone, he has three goals and two assists, including both game-winners. ``Everyone picks it up in the playoffs,'' Checco said. ``I kind of go on streaks and I've gotten some breaks lately, but it's not like I was saving myself or anything.'' Larson has also turned up his level of play since the Gophers' game against Denver for third place in the WCHA Final Five. He has four goals and two assists since that game, despite previously only scoring 10 points throughout the season. Larson said the Gophers are determined to win it all. ``(Scott) Bell has been saying since day one that we're going to win the national championship,'' Larson said. ``I think we have a fair chance at winning it.''