One day after handing Boston College its worst loss in almost 17 years, the Gophers jumped three spots to overtake the Eagles as the No. 1 team in the country in the USCHO.com poll.
The Gophers did suffer a loss, however, when leading scorer Erik Haula left the game in pain after being slashed across the right hand in the third period. Coach Don Lucia said Monday that Haula is week-to-week with an upper-body injury and is doubtful to play Jan. 8 vs. Notre Dame.
That game is a father-son showdown between Don Lucia and Irish freshman Mario Lucia. Lucia and Gophers freshman defenseman Mike Reilly are representing the United States in the world junior championships in Russia. Reilly scored the winning goal in a 9-3 victory over Slovakia on Monday. The Americans advanced to play the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.
MICHAEL RUSSO
