Four games that changed a season

A couple of weeks ago the season for the Gophers men's hockey team was in jeopardy of ending with the next loss. But Minnesota responded with its longest winning streak of the season.

Minnesota won four dramatic games in a seven-day span. One victory required two overtimes. Two others were in one overtime. And a fourth came in the final seconds of the third period.

The first two victories over Minnesota State Mankato put the Gophers in the WCHA's Final Five, the next two, over St. Cloud State and Colorado College, assured them a spot in the NCAA tournament.

"It's amazing that our two leading goal-scorers don't have one [goal] in the playoffs," said Don Lucia, referring to forwards Blake Wheeler (15 goals) and Ben Gordon (14), "and yet, here we are. We survived. And that's because it has been a new guy every night."

The Gophers face Boston College on Saturday in the NCAA Northeast Regional in Worcester, Mass.

"Because of the way we are playing, I'd love it right now if we are heading into the third period tied on Saturday night," Lucia said. "And overtime, we are fine with that. The guys are comfortable in that setting, and we are not changing the way we play now."

Minnesota has played in 16 overtime games -- three more than the previous school record. And, after going winless (0-4-9) in the first 13 overtime games, the Gophers have won three in a row.

Here's a closer look at the Gophers' do-or-die winning streak and the players -- Mike Carman, Tony Lucia, Mike Howe and Mike Hoeffel -- who scored the game-winners:

GAME 1

GOPHERS 2, MINNESOTA STATE MANKATO 1, OT

The ending: Carman's long shot from high in the slot hit a defenseman's leg, then clanked in off the crossbar at 7:33 into overtime. "It was pretty awesome," said Carman, whose goal was only his fourth of the season. "I didn't even see the shot go in. Our team started celebrating and then I realized I had scored."

The reaction: He received 15 to 20 text messages and calls from family and friends. Before his post-game media interview, Carman stopped to watch a replay of his goal.

Reflecting: Carman, a sophomore center, sat out the first half of the season; he was academically ineligible. "When I came back, I wanted to contribute in every way I could," he said, "and there is no bigger way to contribute then scoring a game-winning goal in [the] playoffs, let alone in overtime."

He said he will always remember this goal, as he does another overtime goal in high school. As a sophomore at Holy Angels, his goal enabled the favored Stars to beat Eagan in the section semifinals.

GAME 2

GOPHERS 3, MINNESOTA STATE MANKATO 2, 2 OTS

The ending: Sophomore left winger Tony Lucia said he never saw the puck, lying at the feet of Mavericks goalie Mike Zacharias. "I just swatted at it and hoped I was going to hit something," he said. "I was fortunate the puck was where my stick was going."

His sixth goal of the season, at 16:59 of the second overtime, came after Zacharias had stopped Evan Kaufmann's long shot.

The reaction: "So much emotion went through my body, it's tough to describe," said Tony Lucia. whose father Don coaches the Gophers.

After the game, Tony Lucia visited with his mother, two sisters and a younger brother.

"They said they were ready to disown me after I took that penalty in that first overtime," he said. "Obviously, my family lives and dies with Gophers hockey because of my dad and me now."

Tony Lucia received 20-some text messages and some on his Facebook page.

Reflecting: "Between the first and second overtimes, Jay [teammate Jay Barriball] said, 'I think you are going to get it Loosh. I think it's your turn,'" Lucia said. "I said, 'I'll take it.' "

The goal meant a lot. "I want to prove to myself and to other people every game that I play, that I am meant to be where I'm at," Tony Lucia said. "It's not just a gift that [my father] gave me just because I am his son."

GAME 3

GOPHERS 3, ST. CLOUD STATE 2

The ending: Senior left winger Mike Howe was in the right place with 12.7 seconds left in the third period. A shot from the point bounced hard off the endboards at Xcel Energy Center and right to Howe, near the bottom of the left circle.

"I just tried to get open in front of the net like I always do," the assistant captain said, "and [the puck] happened to come to me. And all I had to do was slide it in."

Sounds simple. It was his sixth goal.

The reaction: Assistant coach John Hill asked Howe how he was feeling. The tough, stoic Howe, who has rheumatoid arthritis, answered: "Pretty good." Hill pressed on, telling Howe: "At that moment when you scored that goal, you were probably one of the happiest people on earth."

"I never really thought of it that way," Howe replied, "but maybe so."

Howe had about 50 missed text alerts, some repeats, on his cell phone that night from people in his hometown, St. Cloud, and friends watching the game on FSN. He was raised in St. Cloud, and went to high school there. The Huskies were his boyhood team.

Reflecting: "It felt extra special to get the game-winner against them at the Xcel Center," Howe said. "I stayed in my daily routine. That's a big thing, preparation. You work hard every day on the ice, and good things tend to happen."

GAME 4

GOPHERS 2, COLORADO COLLEGE 1, OT

The ending: Mike Hoeffel, a 6-2, 195-pound freshman, scored his second goal of the game at 4:47 of overtime. His shot ricochetted off a defenseman's skate, then off CC goalie Richard Bachman's back. It was his ninth goal of the season, his first game-winner.

The reaction: "All of a sudden the whole team mobs you coming off the bench," Hoeffel said. "It's really an exciting, fun moment to be a part of."

He had 45 text messages, including one from Ron Rolston, his coach last season when he played on one of the national development program teams in Ann Arbor, Mich. "Usually I don't really ever talk to him. It was kind of cool," Hoeffel said.

Sleep usually comes easily for Hoeffel after games; he is so tired. This night he needed a couple hours before dozing off.

Reflecting: The last time Hoeffel scored in a similar situation, he was a junior at Hill-Murray. The Pioneers were playing archrival White Bear Lake in a 0-0 game until he scored with one minute left. FSN was televising the game, just as it has these four consecutive victories.

Whose turn it is to win the next game for the Gophers?

"It doesn't matter who it is, as long as it happens," Hoeffel said.