The Gopher Hockey team sits at the top of the WCHA as it heads west to Denver this weekend. Sweeping the Pioneers would strengthen the Gophers position and essentially eliminate Denver from playoff contention. The Strib's Roman Augustovitz says it will happen.

The Golden Gophers dropped an important home game to Colorado College Friday night. Nick Bjugstad tied the score 1-1 with 1:17 left in the third period, but the Tigers scored the game winner 41 seconds later, sending Minnesota to a last second loss.

University of Minnesota men's hockey coach Don Lucia says this weekend's series against Colorado College won't be anything like last weekend's split against North Dakota. The Tigers are much faster team than UND, meaning the Gophers are skating a little harder in practice this week.

Denver handed the Gophers a 4-3 loss in overtime to sweep the weekend series Saturday night. Minnesota (15-7-0 WCHA) had to play without Kyle Rau, who was suspended for a game following a hit Friday night. The Gophers return to home ice against Bemidji State on Friday.

Last spring Alaska-Anchorage shocked Minnesota by skating into Mariucci Arena and knocking their hosts out of the WCHA tournament in the first round. This year's high-scoring version of the Gophers has their first crack at the Seawolves in this weekend's two-game set in Anchorage.

The hockey Gophers blasted Sacred Heart last weekend, scoring 15 goals in two games. It’ll get a little tougher tomorrow night in Duluth, where Minnesota takes on on the defending national champion Bulldogs in a weekend series. Right now, UMD is ranked No. 9 in the nation, the Gophers are ranked 14th.

With a weekend sweep of the Fighting Sioux, the Gophers hockey team (6-0, 9-1) is now No. 1 in the USA Today and the U.S. College Hockey Online polls.

The Gophers chances of a WCHA regular season title look a little better after sweeping SCSU last weekend. Minnesota leads second place UMD by five points. Denver is seven points behind the Gophers while Colorado College and North Dakota are eight points back.