Looking for positives? Power play showing life

Sophomore center Jordan Schroeder, an assistant Gophers captain, committed an ill-advised penalty at the end of the second period on Sunday in Minnesota's 6-2 loss to BSU.. He cross-checked a Bemidji State player behind the Beavers' net, giving BSU a two-minute power play to start the final period.

At the time, the Gophers trailed 3-1. Schroeder was asked if the penatly was the result of frustration. "No," he said.

Then he offered an explanation: "He kind of came in there and gave me a really good hack," Schroeder said. "It was kind of a battle and he was laying on the puck, too, and wouldn't get up. It was kind of a little battle and scrum in there. It was a little bit of a weak call. That's the referees these days."

BSU captain Chris McKelvie committed a similar penalty -- goalie interference -- at the end of the first period. The difference was, the Gophers did not score on their power play to start the second period, while the Beavers did on their power play to start the third and got two more quick goals after that.

Schroeder has not taken many penalties, five minors in 10 games. It's not an issue game after game with him. Mike Carman has the most penalties on the team, eight for 19 minutes.

On the positive side Sunday, and there wasn't much there, Schroeder scored his second power-play goal. He also had one Saturday. And the Gophers had two each night.

"We weren't doing so well on the PP and now we are kind of clicking," Schroeder said. "It's a positive thing to take out of the game tonight. Definitely we have some other things to work on and move forward."

"There is a small margin for error in today's game and unfortunately we were on the bad side of it [Sunday] night," Schroeder said.

"Last night [the Beavers] came out flying. They are a very quick team. They move the puck well. They are No. 7 in the country, so we are the underdogs coming into the series. They played well. You got to give them credit. We just kind of gave it to them [Sunday] night.

"It was our mental state, some turnovers that cost us goals. And that's what the game is, all about converting another team's turnovers. They capitalized when they had the chances."

THE DON SAYS

Don Lucia on Bemidji State after Beavers' 6-2 victory on Sunday: "They did a good job. It's a good program. They play hockey the right way. They are disciplined. They skate and they are well-coached."