Coach Don Lucia talk to the media every Wednesday. The Gophers are in seventh place in the WCHA race, one point ahead of Alaska Anchorage. The questions often seem the same three months into the season. Here are the Q and A highlights from today:
Q. How can the Gophers' scoring improve?
A. All you can do is keep showing them the areas of the rink they have to go into. The good thing is, our power play numbers have improved, our shot totals on net have improved, so we are doing a lot of those things you want to do to have more success. You just hope some of those pucks start to go in. You have to score goals to win, too. We are a little bit short-handed with our lineup. That obviously has an effect. But other guys are getting an opportunity and they have to step forward.
Q. Last weekend Colorado scored seven goals in a split at Alaska Anchorage and nore were 5-on-5. How important are your specialty teams going to be up there?
A. We have to be able to score on the power play, there is no question. Not a lot of goals are scored 5-on-5 these days. We have to play smart 5-on-5. They play a little different system with their left wing lock. And they are always going to have three guys back. So we have to make sure we stay patient and not turn over pucks at the blue line because that's what they want to do, to be able to counter-attack."
(Not sure what a left wing lock is, but I'd rather be a center or right wing this weekend if I were a Gopher player.)
Q. Minnesota only had two power plays on Saturday, why are you not getting more in recent games?
A. Some of it is, the teams we are playing at the time. St. Cloud State does not take a lot of penalties. ... And some of that is maybe we have to work harder in the offensive zone and get to the net front.
