Three keys to Gophers beatings SCSU on Friday:
1. Take advantage of Mike Lee's rustiness ... The Huskies are starting Lee, who hasn't played since Oct. 22 against New Hampshire. He had 44 saves in that game, a 3-3 tie. But the next week in practice he suffered a hip injury.
He waited several weeks to see how the injury would respond before having surgery on Nov. 15. At the time, he said his chances of coming back this season were slim.
But No. 30 is out there on the Mariucci ice. He is 2-2-1 this season with a 3.34 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage. His career numbers are better than that. He has a 2.82 GAA and a .912 save pct.
This may sound a bit cruel, but Gophers need to test him. Don't let him get comfortable. Throw everything at him. See how he responds.
Lee is 6-1, 190 and a product of the hockey hotbed in Roseau.
2. Watch Ben Hanowski. He was like a man among boys last game at Mariucci. The Gophers won 5-0 but Hanowski had 11 shots on goal. Good thing Kent Patterson was sharp and Gophers got big lead. He's dangerous.
3. Gophers need another big game from the fourth line. The Gophers' bottom line dominated CC last Saturday. If they are matched against the Huskies' fourth line, they should do well, too. It's made up of freshmen who haven't showed they can score yet.
