Blais: Key to UNO sweep of Gophers was not to panic when U rallied

UNO coach Dean Blais said college hockey teams who are big are usually slow, too. but the Mavericks are big and fast and tenacious.

"The guys dug down and found a way to win," he said on his Tuesday radio show. He was referring, of course, to UNO's 5-4 and 4-2 sweep over the Gophers last weekend.

He said when the Gophers rallied in both games, he liked the way the Mavericks handled the pressure. "There was no panic," Blais said, "we went back to playing our game.

"If there was any panic, we probably would have lost both games."

The Gophers, down 4-0 on Friday, tied the game at 4-4 late in the third period but UNO scored with 96 seconds left. On Saturday, Minnesota trailed 3-0 before scoring two third-period goals.

* UNO is leading the nation in scoring. The Mavericks work on going to the net, rebounds and tips every day in practice, he said, and also have talented players such was Matt White, Terry Broadhurst and Rich Purslow. "You can work as hard as want, if you don't have the skill."

* UNO sophomore goalie John Faulkner likes al the big defensemen the Mavericks have. Their size might intimidate some teams, he said, adding "if guys are clearing bodies in front of the net, it makes my life a lot easier."

* On why 6-3 freshman defenseman Michael Young played on Saturday after getting a major penalty and game misconduct on Friday for elbowing Gophers winger Jacob Cepis in the head: "That was not a penalty. The refs made a mistake." ... UNO's team rule is a player sits after any major penalty even if he does not get a game disqualification (which would mandate he can't play).

* On the two goals Gophers scored on Saturday, both on shots by defenseman Kevin Wehrs from the left point: "On both those goals, [the shot] should have been blocked." ... It wasn't. Wehrs got a goal on the first shot and an assist on the second, which teammate Erik Haula, down low, defelected into the net.

* Blais said the Gophers had 17 NHL draft picks in their lineup and Michigan will play 15 this weekend against UNO. "We have two. ... But you can take all the stats and throw them out the window," he said.

UNO has some players who have a chance to play at the next level because they will develop, Blais said.

* On two-game series at Michigan, rated No. 3 in what national poll, No. 4 in the other: "It will be another good test to see where we are." UNO is rated No. 10.

The International Scouting Service just released it's top 30 prospects for the 2011 NHL entry draft at the Xcel next june. Seth Ambroz, a Gophers recruit playing for the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, was listed at No. 12.

That sounds pretty good except ISS said Ambroz' rating is slipping:

Seth Ambroz, F, Omaha Lancers
There is no denying Ambroz's skill level, but the biggest knock on him at this point is his lack of significant improvement.

Being considered a top prospect brings its fair share of scrutiny and at this point Ambroz is falling victim to it. He had a strong Ivan Hlinka tournament [in early August] putting up two goals and two assists in five games, but left a lot of scouts feeling like he should have done more.

Ambroz was fairly disappointing during the USHL showcase [in mid-September] as well but still has tremendous upside. The powerful forward can put up great numbers and can really take control of space well with and without the puck.

One has to wonder a bit if Ambroz, who was accelerating to join the Gophers this season, is still disappointed it didn't happen. Last weekend, it would have been Seth against his older brother Matt, a senior and assistant captain at UNO.

Seth's two linemates with the Omaha Lancers last season are also in the WCHA. Freshmen Matt White of UNO and Erik Haula of the Gophers are both off to good starts and playing on their respective team's top line. Seth is back in Omaha for a third year.

U WOMEN DROP IN POLL

Next door to Mariucci Arena is Ridder Arena where the Gophers women's hockey teams plays. Last weekend was not the best for coach Brad Frost's team either.

North Dakota, which had lost 28 games in a row to the Gophers, swept them which dropped the U four spots in the USA Today national poll.