Two OT games at Bemidji St., Lucia said, helped U for playoffs

Gophers coach Don Lucia said the Bemidji State series and a good record recently has prepared his team for the playoffs. Minnesota faces Alaska Anchorage in a best-of-three, first-round WCHA playoff series this weekend.

"The guys feel real good about how they are playing," Lucia said Monday on his weekly show on WCCO-radio. "When you have a seven-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2), you just feel good about yourself. The breaks seem to be going your way a little bit.

" We knew last weekend would be a difficult series up in Bemidji. They are a good team, they are a very good defensive team. And they have some good top-end players."

The Gophers and Bemidji State tied 3-3 in the first game after a scoreless overtime. Then, on Saturday, the Gophers beat the Beavers 3-2 in overtime on freshman center Nick Bjugstad's goal 20 seconds into the extra period.

"In some ways it was kind of good that there were a couple of overtime games," Lucia said. "As you head into the playoffs, the games usually tighten up and lot of times, there are overtimes involved.

"I was happy about the overtime and getting a win in overtime on Saturday because it has been a long time since we had an overtime win."

The Gophers were 0-1-6 in overtime games this season until Saturday.

Friday's game at Bemidji State probably should not have gone to overtime, but one of the referees called Nick Bjugstad for hooking with 40 seconds left in the third period with Minnesota ahead 3-2.

The Beavers pulled their goalie with 28 seconds left, giving them a six-on-four advantage in skaters, and tied the score with 19 seconds to play.

The problem was, it was a controversial call. Bjugstad appeared to hook the BSU player's stick and it went flying in the air. That's not a penalty.

Asked about the referee apologizing to Bjugstad about the call the next day, Lucia said, "It happens more than you think,. They have difficult jobs and they have different vantage points and views. The official that made the call was behind the play and what he thought happened versus when you get a chance to watch things on tape -- what actually happens -- can be two different things.

"The officials want to get it right. They do. They take great pride in what they do. And they are professionals at it. As bad as we feel when we think they missed a call, they feel just as bad."

Lucia said he would have an update on the availablility of junior forward Taylor Matson and junior defenseman Aaron Ness on Wednesday, when he normally meets with the media. Both were injured in the second period of Friday's game.

Neither returned to action that night or played Saturday. Matson apparently has a lower-body injury. He was limping heavily near the locker room after Saturday's game.

"We did get a few bumps and bruises over the weekend," Lucia said, "and that is going to happen.

"We have only two players on our team that have played every game this year. It has been one thing after another with this group. And that's what I told them going into the game on Saturday. Hey, we are not going to have Taylor, we are not going to have Aaron but you know what? We have been faced with that all year long.

"And other guys have played and had the opportunity to step up. And that's what happened on Saturday. ... And as a team we still found a way to win the game on Saturday. The guys knew it was an important game. Maybe not as much for the standings as it was for the end of the year."

If the NCAA field was being picked today, the Gophers would be out for the third year in a row. They are tied with Maine for No. 18 in the PairWise rankings. They need to move up to No. 14 at least.

Tied for No. 14 are Western Michigan and Colorado College. When looking at four criteria, both those teams with 15 comparisos against other teams in the PairWise rankings. The Gophers win 13.

So they have a chance to move up. But beating UAA is a must and probably winning two games in the FInal Five at least. Or three wins at the Final Five would get them in for sure because then the Gophers would win the tournament and have an automatic bid.

THE IRONMEN

Gophers who have played in the most games this season:

33 games: Mike Hoeffel, Cade Fairchild, Nate Condon, Taylor Matson, Aaron Ness, Mark Alt ... Matson and Ness missed their first game on Saturday because of injuries

32: Eric Haula, Kevin Wehrs ... Only games Haula missed were to play for Finland in the World Juniors Championships

Others all 28 games or under

Practice change: The Gophers are taking Tuesday off after practicing on Monday. Usually, the only day off the team takes is Sunday but, if the best of three-series with Alaska Anchorage goes to a third game, they would have to play next Sunday.

THE DON SAYS

Saturday's lines

Mike Hoeffel-Nick Bjugstad-Nick Larson

Jacob Cepis-Erik Haula-Jake Hansen

Nate Condon-Pat White-Jay Barriball

Tom Serratore-Nico Sacchetti-Joe Miller

Barriball had one assist, but no shots on goal on Friday and was even on the plus/minus ranking. He had three assists and four shots on goal on Saturday and was a plus-2.

* On Nick Bjugstad's improved play: "Obviously, he is starting to figure out how to use his size. He finally made the adjustment to college hockey. Most of his points have come post the World Juniors [over the holidays]. He came back with a lot of confidence in his game and has matured. And you can't forget he missed that month with mono. It's part of that development curve. Now all of a sudden you are seeing the player we expected this year.

"It is a transition going from high school to the WCHA. We saw that with Nick and now he is starting to play much, much better."

Bjugstad had three goals and one assist last weekend against Bemidji State. And, in the 14 games since the World Junior Championships, he had six goals and nine assists for 15 points. Contrast those numbers to his first 13 games when he had two goals and two assists.

* On senior center Patrick White, who has four goals and five assists in his last 12 games: "He is playing quite frankly, the way we expected him to play this year. We have been on him a lot. He has to play the body and win his battles along the wall. On Friday, his first goal, I don't know if it went off a skate or what, but he won the wall battle and took it to the net. And that is something that he wasn't doing earlier in the year.

"We need that from him. As a senior, he is a guy who can score. He looks like a completely different player right now."