Barriball still out for Michigan Tech series

Gophers senior captain Jay Barriball did not participate in the team's practice on Wednesday.

He is still out after being injured in the first period of the second UMD game on Feb. 6. Barriball has what Gophers coach Don Lucia and he say is a lower-body. It's a knee injury, according to two sources close to Barriball or the program.

The lines at Wednesday's practice were:

1st/ Mike Hoeffel-Nick Bjugstad-Nick Larson ... Hoeffel had four goals and one assist when the Gophers swept Michigan Tech 6-4, 4-1 on Nov. 19 and 20 in Houghton

2nd/ Jacob Cepis-Erik Haula-Jake Hansen ... Cepis has a goal in each of the past three games. ... Haula had three assists when the Gophers played in the UP (upper peninsula or Michigan)

3rd/ Nate Condon-Patrick White-Taylor Matson ... all three have been playing well lately, giving the Gophers three lines that opponents have to worry about

4th/ Tom Serrator-Nico Sacchetti-Joe Miller ... played together in second game of Wisconsin series

Watched practice for an hour on Wednesday. Now I remember why I don't do that too often. Here are the "highlights":

* Goalies usually go out to practice first to work with goalie coach Justin Johnson. Today he was not there, or left awfully early. But goalies were out there and Jake Kremer was working on his reflexes. He would turn his head to the left corner, then back as someone would fire a shot at him.

Obviously, he was training himself to pick up the puck quickly.

* Also bBefore practice Jacob Cepis takes a puck in the shins or lower leg someplace. Crumples to the ice, lays there for a few seconds and then gingerly skates away. He's OK. Shot just stung a bit.

* Some players celebrate when the score a goal in pre-practice warm-ups. The celebrations are nothing too elaborate. They just raise their arms.

.* Next are 3-on-0 rushes on the goalies. Something the masked men never want to see. ... Kent Patterson and Jake Kremer are in the nets. Alex Fons watches from the sideline.

* Lucia at board by bench again, diagramming something else

* 2-on-2 drill attacking the net

* Kevin Wehrs give fellow defenseman Aaron Ness a high-five after Ness scores a goal on the 2-on-2

* Gophers practice their power plays

* D-manb Mark Alt clears puck on the penalty kill

* Lucia is on the ice as the practice continues. He is the only coach with his whistle in his mouth

* Patterson takes a break. He will start both games this weekend.

* Another 2-on-2

* Assistant John Hill, who works with the defenseman, talks with two of the freshmen D, Nate Schmidt and Jake Parenteau. Hill points to a spot on the ice with his hockey stick.

* Noticed several players spit on the ice during practice. Would not even mention it except for the recent flak over Tiger Woods spitting on a golf green. This is a little different.