Are the wheels coming off the bus in Minneapolis?

This article was in the Grand Forks Herald today. I thought of a scenario where UND makes the NCAA playoffs and UMN doesn't. While it might a slight stretch since UMN schedule is relatively easy (according to Doug Woog) I could see the NCAA sending the Sioux to the West Regional in Minneapolis to pick up the slack left by Minnesota not being there. I know UND fans would travel well for this regional. Lastly, wouldn't it be nice to see the Fighting Sioux exercise the demons from losing to Ferris State in the 2003 regionals. Everything could be made all right by having the Fighting Sioux skating around the Mariucci Arena with the 2009 West Regional Hockey Championship Trophy.

Gophers defensemen need to clear the crease and the surrounding area. Kangas had guys bumping him all night. A couple of times, he was found beneath a big pile. The Gophers need to face the incoming traffic and steer it away.

“We have to box out,” Lucia agreed. “We need to play better, coach better. It’s so frustrating our last three games have been by one goal, one goal, one goal.”

On offense, they have to shoot the dang puck. Never mind trying to make the perfect pass. Shoot it and make sure it’s on net. Slam it and jam it. Several times Saturday the Gophers had plenty of traffic in front of Badgers goaltender Shane Connelly. They waited too long. They missed the net. They didn’t get good wood on it.

I’m not telling Lucia anything he doesn’t know. No doubt he will address these things with his players. Perhaps his main task is to convey a sense of urgency. It is possible the Gophers could miss the NCAA playoffs for the first time in nine years. I’m not saying it’s likely, but it is possible.

Once ranked No. 1 in the country, they have slid into the bottom half of the WCHA standings. Surely they will fall out of the national top 10 when the next poll is released.

There should be a whole lot of motivation wrapped up in all of that.
(Read the whole article here)