Last season the Gophers were second in the country in combined special teams success.
Minnesota was first in the WCHA and fourth in the nation on the penalty kill with a 88.8 percent success rate. On the power play, the Gophers were 20.1 percent, which was the second best in the conference and eight nationally.
Combined that"s a 54.7 success rate in 2008-09. Last weekend against NoDak, Minnesota struggled in both area. The power play was 0 for 9 and gave up a short-handed goal and on the penalty kill, North Dakota scored four goals on 12 chances. Mike Hoeffel of Minnesota did get a short-handed goal in Saturday's 3-3 overtime tie.
What gives?
"For us it is always an adjustment going from a big rink to a small rink, especially on the power play," Lucia said on Wednesday before practice. "It is going to be a lot easier when you are on an Olympic-size rink being able to set up."
The Gophers opened the season on the road, at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks. This weekend they are at Mariucci against Denver.
"Our power play will be fine as we head back into this rink," Lucia said. "There is no question that was a big part [of last weekend's problems, a 4-0 loss and a 3-3 tie]. I told the power play guys [on Tuesday] and we worked on it. One power play goal on Saturday would have been the difference."
As for the penalty kill, Lucia said the problem there was the forwards. "Our forwards have to be willing to eat a puck," he said. "If you are going to kill penalties, you have to eat a puck.
