Jacob Cepis was a bit disappointed. He wanted the Gophers to sweep the Badgers this weekend, of course.

They nearly did. He got his second goal in two games on Friday in Minnesota's 5-2 victory, then had an assist and a goal on Saturday in the Gophers' 3-3 tie.

Last year I thought he was the Gophers' MVP the second half ot the season -- he was ineligible the first half, sitting out a year after a transfer from Bowling Green.

He gave the team a spark last season and is now doing it again. He has three goals in three games and the Gophers have gone 2-0-1 in that stretch, getting themselves in a position to challenge Wisconsin for fifth place in the WCHA.

His goal on Saturday was his 10th of the season and came on a backhander on a breakaway early in the third period. He beat goalie Brett Bennett with a shot through his legs.

"I am a big beliver in the five-hole," Cepis said, shortly before going to look for an uncle up from Milwaukee to watch him play.

Cepis said the Gophers coaches have been on him a lot lately, telling him not to be so passive. To be a pest out on the ice. Not to wait for the game to come to him.

He has listened. And with senior captain Jay Barriball, a 12-goal scorer out with a knee injury, the Gophers have needed someone else to stir things up.

Who better than the player nicknamed Papa Chirp. Papa because he is one of the older players, Chirp because, well you know, he talks a lot on the ice.

Next up is Michigan Tech, which ended a 20-some game winless streak on Friday by beating Denver 3-2. Better the Huskies upset DU, than come to Mariucci with that luckless string in tact.

Senior defenseman Cade Fairchild said the Gophers can't take MTech lightly. The Pioneers learned the hard way.

"We need every point we can get to to get home ice," Fairchild said. "It does not matter who we are playing."

The Gophers walked through the WCHA's version of Murders' Row -- North Dakota, Minnesota Duluth, Denver and Wisconsin -- in four of their past five series. After Tech at home this weekend, the maroon and gold, finish regular-season play at pesky Bemidji State. Those teams are12th and tied for ninth in the WCHA.

Should be some points there. Maybe enough to catch Wisconsin, which goes to St. Cloud State, then hosts Colorado College.

Bet the Gophers' playoff fate comes down to the last night of the regular season.