Just about ready to hop into my Dodge Carvan for that 150-mile trip to Duluth. I’m sure the Gophers are already there, soaking everything in.

I think they need at least three points this weekend. UMD is in fourth place, the U is tied for sixth. The Gophers need to start an unbeaten streak going. Only 18 games left, four against the Dogs.

Coach Don Lucia said the rink is small, 190×85, so forget about the pretty plays.Go to the net, get some scrappy, gritty goals.

Can this team do that?

Three keys to winning at UMD:

1) Get ahead — by more than a goal. Freshman Alex Kangas will start in goal tonight. Givehim a cushion.

2) Get more from Mike Carman and Cade Fairchild. The jet lagandbody cycle upheaval from the World Junior Championships should be gone by now.

3) Somebody, anybody have a big points night. Do you realize only two people have two-goal games? A hat trick, what’s that? The biggest night for any Gopher has been three points.

How do you see the UMD-Gophers series?

This entry was posted on Friday, January 18th, 2008 at 12:42 pm and is filed under Gophers men's hockey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.