Five games into the college hockey season, the number of unbeaten WCHA teams has dwindled to two.
There is Colorado College, which has played only twice and is idle this weekend. And then there are the Gophers (5-0). They beat Vermont 6-0 on Friday at Mariucci Arena and will try to sweep the Catamounts on Sunday afternoon. The day off between games was to ease traffic problems Saturday following the Gophers-Nebraska football game at TCF Bank Stadium.
Sophomore Nick Bjugstad scored twice Friday to increase his goal total to five. Also with five goals on the nation's top-scoring team are freshman Kyle Rau, who had a goal in the first minute Friday, and sophomore Erik Haula.
The No. 8 Gophers have 31 goals, averaging just over six goals per game. Goalie Kent Patterson has shutouts in all three home games -- the Gophers opened the season with 9-0 and 6-0 victories over Sacred Heart Oct. 7-8.
"[The Gophers] played great," Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon said. "No weakness in their game [Friday]. They haven't had much weakness in their game all season."
Gophers coach Don Lucia said he liked the way his forwards played. "We did some good things in the offensive zone. Moved and spread the rink a little bit," he said. "There were some good, positive signs, things we worked on this week in practice."
Zach Budish, the third member of the Gophers' first line along with Bjugstad and Rau, had a goal and two assists.
