Gophers coach says it's not time to worry, lot of hockey remains

Gophers coach Don Lucia, those close to him say, is pretty astute when it comes to the PairWise ratings.

At this time of the season, those are the only important poll. The PairWise ratings, which compare teams in four statistical categories, mimic how the NCAA fills out its 16-team field for the national tournament.

The Gophers are No. 14 in the PairWise today. Almost on the bubble, but Lucia seems unruffled.

"It is so close with everybody right now," he said Wednesday during the Gophers weekly media day. "The system, we say it all the time, was meant to be looked at when the final game has been played. And there is a lot of hockey to be played. We all have six regular season games to go, we have playoffs to be had."

The Gophers play Bemidji State at home this weekend, then travel to Nebraska Omaha, and finish with another home series against Wisconsin.

"We are in a good position right now," Lucia said. "I like where we are in the league and even overall. We control our own destiny. ... As long as you win games, you don't have to worry about it."

The Gophers next opponent is a hot Bemidji State team, coming off a sweep of Colorado College. "Everybody has tough games with them," Lucia said. "They have certainly one of the top goalies in the league [Dan Bakala]. They have very much a junior/senior team.

BSU EXCITED FOR GOPHERS

Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore said his team is confident and excited going into the Gophers series.

"We have to adjust to the Olympic ice again," he said, "and the Gophers really know how to spread the rink out on that big sheet they have."

The rink at Mariucci Arena is 200 by 100 feet, of 15 feet wider than an NHL rink and most college rinks.

"But our guys are excited about it. It is always exciting playing the Minnesota Gophers."

"We are doing some good things right now and the guys are playing with confidence."

Especially playing well is senior goalie Dan Bakala.

"It is key that he plays this well at this time of the year," Serratore said. "It is crunch time right now. The stretch run. He stood tall [last] weekend. He was one of our best players and played like the vet he is."

CURSED CUP?

Based on the past 20 or so WCHA seasons, team should not covet the MacNaughton Cup too much. It seems to be cursed.

Since then, there have been two WCHA co-champions to win the big prize: North Dakota in 1997 and Denver in 2005.

Bottom line is that, in the 21 years since 1991, only three teams who won or shared the MacNaughton Cup celebrated a national title the same year.

THE DON SAYS

* On the one-game suspension to Kyle Rau for his hit on Denver's Jason Zucker: "Ultimately, we have to make sure we protect the players. And Kyle understands that and our whole team does. it is something we talk about and review after, whether it is a check from behind or a major penalty."

Lucia said Rau got a suspension for several reasons: "The lateness of the hit. The distance traveled. They felt the hands came up into the head and [Zucker] got launched into the boards. it wasn't any one thing, but it was a combination of all four."

* On whether the team's stars need to play better in the stretch: "You need everybody to step up. Like any team, you need your goaltender to play well at this time of the year. You need your top-end guys to score on a regular basis and then you need your secondary scoring to come through."