Too early to tell on Gophers yet

Is Nebraska-Omaha that good? Are the Gophers that bad?

Those are the questions rumbling through my head after watching the Gophers show up late for both games Fri. and Sat.

UNO led the first night 4-0, before winning 5-4. The Mavericks lead was 3-0 the next night before winning 4-2 with an empty-net goal at the end. So really, two one-goal games.

The Mavericks seemed more motivated, and most of the time more quicker than the Gophers despite being bigger.

On Saturday, they attempted 82 shots, and put 48 of those on net. Seventeen were blocked by the defense, 13 missed, four his pipes.

Eleven players had between five and three shots. So who do you watch?

Alex Kangas, the Gophers' senior goalie kept the game close. He has played in 103 games in his career and his 44 saves were within one of his career high.

The Gophers took 31 shots. Jay Barriball had seven of those. Three players had three shots, everybody else had two, one or zero.

There were only four penalties called in the game, all minors, two on UNO, two on Gophers. Both teams were 0-for-2 on the power play. Minnesota had scored two power plays goals in each of its first three games.

STARS OF GAME

The first star of the game was Matt Ambroz, a 6-4, 207 senior right wing. he scored the game-winner at 16 minutes of the second period on a rebound. He is from New Prague, Minn. His goal made it 3-0 Mavs. He had four shots and was a plus-2.

UNO's Terry Broadhurst was the second star. He had assists on the second and third Mavericks' goals. He took four shots and was a plus-2.

REBOUNDS A PROBLEM

Cade Fairchild, the Gophers other senior, had a rough night. He was on the ice for all four UNO goals and was a minus-4. Forget the empty-net goal. Hard to blame anyone for that.

But here's what happened on UNO's first goal. On a Mavericks' rush, defenseman Eric Olimb, on the right side, centers the puck to Joey Martin. His shot hits the left post and richochets 5-6 feet in front of the opposite post. Fairchild tries to clear the puck, but misses.

Matt White shoots and it's 1-0 UNO just 3:10 into game.

Late in the opening period, a shot by UNO's Terry Broadhurst hits traffic in front and the puck lays there on the left edge of the crease. Zahn Raubenheimer, the right wing, cuts across and backhands the puck into the open side. Now it's 2-0 UNO.

UNO takes 25 shots in second period and scores with 4 minutes left. Center Alex Hudson wins a draw in the right circle in UNO's offensive end. Broadhurst takes a shot from the right hash marks. Kangas makes the save, but Matt Ambroz is there in front to tap in the rebound.

POWER PLAY SLOWED

The Gophers had only two power plays. Both were in the second period and they only got three shots in four minutes. Not much pressure there.

First power play unit had two first line, Mike Hoeffel, Erik Haula and Jay Barriball, plus Jacob Cepis from second line and defenseman Aaron Ness.

On second power play were three forwards, center Nick Bjugstad from the second line, and wings Nate Condon and Jake Hansen from the third line, plus defensemen Fairchild and Wehrs.

In the third period, after Kevin Wehrs scored on a 50-foot shot, Barriball hit a post at eight minutes. Haula scored on a tip with 3:17 left.

But UNO cam back strong. Broadhurst and Martin both hit posts in the last 2:30.

With the sweep, the Mavericks lead the all-time series with the Gophers 2-1. Minnesota won 7-3 in Omaha in 2003. The two teams are not scheduled to play again during the regular season.

TOUGH LOSSES FOR LUCIA

Gophers coach Don Lucia probably took the sweep hard. He knows all three UNO coaches well.

Fans have short memories and all the empty seats at Mariucci have to be troubling. Crowds were better for the UNO series, but every section still had open seats in most rows.

Joel Maturi, the Gophers' athletric director stopped by the press box in the middle of the game but didn't stay long. He had the Tim Brewster issue to deal with.