A breakthrough: Five goals in one game!!!

Mariucci was far from full on Friday, but it was a rocking place. In the stands and on the ice.

The Gophers scored five times. And it was a night of milestones. Tony Lucia, a senior co-captain, had two goals for the first time in his career. What's even more rare is, both were short-handed. Taylor Matson set him up the first time, flipping a pass to midice that Lucia collected before roaring in on a breakaway.

Jay Barriball gave Lucia a centering pass on a 2-on-1 rush on the second goal. Both were pretty to watch.

Junior defenseman Kevin Wehrs scored his first goal in 79 games. He was starting to wonder if he would ever get one as a Gopher. Lucia set him up for a shot from the left point.

Freshman center Zach Budish scored on a scramble in front of the Seawolves' net. It was his first goal as a Gopher, too.

And defenseman Aaron Ness has the first goal, only his third in two seasons at the U.

Goalie Alex Kangas was quietly efficient. Most of the action was at the other end.

* The power play was 0 for 5 but looked dangerous for a change, especially in the first period. Ness' goal came one second after a power play expired. So, in reality, it came with Alaska Anchorage a man short except in the scorebook.

* Nick Leddy, the Gophers freshman defenseman, took a big hit late in the first period. Heard he was bleeding from the mouth, maybe cut his gums. The Alaska Anchorage player who hit hit was 6-3, Leddy is 5-11. There was no official word after the game on how badly Leddy was hurt.

* Late in the game, one of the Seawolves' many big guys was picking on Mike Carman. He hit him once, then a second time. Then he was on the ice. A freight train ran over him. Actually, it was 6-5 freshman defenseman Seth Helgeson. He wears No. 4, Stu Bickel's old number and he seems to be the heir apparent to Bickel's enforcer role.

* Overheard: "Let's get some new refs." A Gophers player made that remark after the game, but not directly to the media. He was just voicing his frustration.

* It was a comical scene at game's end to look at the penalty boxes. There were 11 players in there, mostly because of a melee started when a Seawolves player jumped Jordan Schroeder from behind. Maybe the visitors were miffed coach Don Lucia had his top power play out there in the last minute.