Mike Connolly showed the Gophers what they need. A player who can score two, three goals once in a while.

MC, of course, did much more than that. He scored five goals as UMD beat the Gophers 6-4. His fifth goal was an empty-netter.

But he also showed a a bit of sportsmanship. He had the puck in the last seconds and didn't try scoring a sixth goal into an empy net. Five was enough.

The Gophers, after getting down 3-0, battled back. But they had no answer for MC. He had two goals in the first period, two in the second and one in the third.

To make matters worst for the U of M, team captain Jay Barriball missed the final two periods with an undisclosed medical problem. If he is out for any length of time, the team's hope to finish at least in sixth place and get the last home ice spot for the playoffs could be in serious jeopardy.

As it is, the Gophers, after getting only one point this week, are alone in seventh in the WCHA at this moment with Alaska Anchorage still playing.

The Seawolves and Michigan Tech are tied 2-2 in the middle of the third period. If UAA wins, the Seawolves would take seventh and drop the U of M to eight. If UAA ties, the Seawolves would tie the Gophers for seventh.

The Gophers played with energy Saturday, nearly matched UMD in shots the third period (14-13) but lost to a team with more firepower especially with Barriball out. He leads the team with 12 goals.