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Gophers trying to rediscover missing offense

David Joles, Star Tribune

Denver vs. Gophers

With only three goals in four games, the U must fix its problems against a stingy Alaska Anchorage defense.

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune

Last update: October 30, 2009 - 12:42 AM

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Six NCAA Division I men's hockey teams have scored fewer goals this season than the Gophers.

But none of those teams have played yet.

The Gophers have three goals in four games and have been shut out three times -- one time more than all of last season. Their power play has been ineffective against two strong teams, North Dakota and Denver.

"We have a lot more games to play, and we can improve," said junior winger Mike Hoeffel, who scored twice in a 3-3 tie at North Dakota two weeks ago. "We know we are capable of doing much more."

The Gophers, playing at home, lost back-to-back 3-0 games to Denver last weekend. It was the first time a Gophers team failed to score in consecutive games since a 0-0 tie with the Tulsa Athletic Club and a 2-0 loss to Wisconsin in January 1930.

"Eventually the goals are going to come," Hoeffel said. "If we have a good weekend, it will get the ship back on the right path."

The Gophers face Alaska Anchorage tonight and Sunday afternoon at Mariucci Arena. There is an off day in between because of the Gophers-Michigan State football game Saturday night at neighboring TCF Bank Stadium.

Anchorage, which beat second-ranked North Dakota 2-1 on Saturday, plays a conservative style that could limit the Gophers' quality chances.

"They are a good defensive team," Gophers coach Don Lucia said. "They always have three guys back. There are not going to be a whole lot of shots on goal. The big thing for us, we have to start generating more scoring chances."

Especially on the power play.

The Gophers are scoreless in 20 power plays and have forced opposing goalies to make only 16 saves.

"The thing that has hurt us on the power play is coming into the zone and not making good reads to set up," Lucia said. "We had times where a guy crosses the line and just takes a shot on the goaltender."

Often those shots don't reach the goalies: 16 have been blocked and 10 drifted wide or high of the cage.

Last season, the Gophers were eighth nationally on power plays, converting at 20.1 percent.

So what is the problem?

"It's a little bit of everything: more shots and more movement and trying to catch [opponents] on their heels," Hoeffel said.

Jordan Schroeder, the top-scoring freshman in the nation last season with 45 points, doesn't have any this season.

"Everybody wants to be out there," Schroeder said. "You are able to create plays that you normally can't on a five-on-five situation."

"Sometimes special teams take time -- it's one click off," Schroeder said. "I am actually glad it is happening right now if it is going to happen rather than in the middle of end [of the season] when we need to be really going."

Lucia said after Saturday's loss he might try a few new players on his two power-play units, but was unsure what lineup changes he would make. "Some of it is going to be dictated by who we think is going to be available this weekend," he said.

Winger Jay Barriball and defenseman Cade Fairchild, two of the team's most skilled offensive players, were skating Wednesday with noncontact jerseys but switched Thursday to their regular practice jersey. Barriball has a hip pointer; Fairchild an unspecified injury.

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