The Gophers are 7-8-1 at Mariucci Arena this season after losing at home last Saturday to St. Cloud State 4-1.
So with only three home games likely left -- barring a late charge for a first division spot -- the Gophers need to win all three to avoid being the first Minnesota team to have a losing record at home since 1976-77.
Two seasons ago, when the present seniors were sophomores, the team flirted with a .below .500 mark but finished 9-8-3. Last season the Gophers were 11-5-6 at home.
The 1998-99 team was 9-9-7 at home and 15-19-9 overall. It finished fifth in the WCHA at 10-12-6 in Doug Woog's 14th and last season as head coach. Don Lucia took over the program the next season.
Just looking at Gophers teams with losing records at home, here is the short list of five:
* 7-10-2 in 1976-77 .... That was 33 years ago. Herb Brooks was the coach. The team was coming off an NCAA championship. The team was 17-21-3 overall, 13-16-3 for seventh in the WCHA and playing in the old Mariucci Arena.
* 4-11-0 in 1971-72 ... Glen Sonmor and later interim Ken Yackel Jr. were the coaches. The team was 8-24-0 overall and 7-21-0 for 10th in the WCHA.
* 5-6-1 in 1966-67 ... Sonmor was the coach. The team was 9-19-1 overall, 5-17-1 for eighth in the WCHA playing in Williams Arena
