WCHA men: Ties expose Gophers as hardly perfect

The nation's No. 1 team has played to a draw in its past four series openers but has bounced back with strong efforts in the second games.

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune

Last update: November 20, 2008 - 11:15 PM

After a 21-18 football loss to an undefeated Army team in 1946, Navy coach Thomas Hamilton uttered what has become one of the most familiar quotes in sports. Hamilton justified not going for a late field goal by saying, "A tie is like kissing your sister."

The modern-day Gophers men's hockey team knows a little about ties, too.

Last season Minnesota set an NCAA single-season record by playing in 16 overtime games. Nine of them ended in ties, tying the school record.

This season the Gophers, 6-0-4 overall, are on a pace to match or surpass those numbers with a curious twist. The past four weekends, the Gophers have tied Wisconsin, Minnesota State Mankato, New Hampshire and Michigan Tech in the first game of those series, then won the second game.

This weekend the No. 1-ranked Gophers play at No. 10 Denver tonight and Saturday. The Pioneers had only one tie all last season -- against Minnesota.

So what's the reason for those second-night victories after ties?

"We've scored more goals, it's pretty simple," Gophers coach Don Lucia said. "We have only scored about two goals a night on Friday nights."

The past four weekends, Minnesota is averaging 2.5 goals in series openers, 5.0 in the second games.

"I don't know if the guys are more relaxed," Lucia said. "If they have more of a comfort level with the opponent. Our power play seems to be better on the second night of a series."

The Gophers have scored three power-play goals in opening games of the past four series, nine in the second games.

Junior wing Ryan Stoa, the team captain, has his theory. "For some reason, we don't seem to have it on some Friday nights," he said. "And then Saturday night, Coach gets all over us, and sparks us a little bit."

So this team needs a swift kick sometimes? Not really, Lucia said.

"We really haven't had to get on them much this season," he said. "The only disappointment we've had with our group this year is the third period this [past] Saturday."

Trailing 2-0 after two periods, Michigan Tech came back to tie the Gophers 2-2.

"But at the same time, we only gave up four shots on goal" in the third period, Lucia said.

After the latest tie, Lucia juggled his lineup for Sunday's game, which Minnesota won 3-0. There were changes on the second, third and fourth lines and two sophomore regulars -- winger Patrick White and defenseman Kevin Wehrs -- sat.

Clearly, the moves were meant to send a message. Lucia specifically addressed White's situation: "We thought it might be good for him to sit a game and sit up top and watch and evaluate because he is certainly capable of doing more than what has happened so far.

"We have had some good talks and [watched] video. He knows what he has to work on and I think we will see that this weekend."

White has one assist in nine games, Wehrs has zero points in eight.

Defenseman Brian Schack, more of a physical force, took Wehrs' spot in the lineup Sunday. Freshman Nick Larson has emerged as the next forward to crack the lineup if anybody is out.