See more of the story

Jay Barriball, Jacob Cepis and Mike Hoeffel, the big guns for the Gophers, couldn't find the net on Friday.

But, for once, they didn't have to. The U was still OK. Five different players scored against a UAA team reported to be a fine defensive team. The Seawolves held eight opponents in a row under 30 shots --until their 5-1 loss at Denver last Saturday.

Friday must have seen like a repeat of a bad dream to UAA.

The Gophers had 19 shots in the opening period, then 12 and 17 for 48 total -- two shy of their season high.

Cepis had seven shots -- he has 17 in his last three games -- but no goals. He did have an assist against UAA.

Barriball had three shots and a chance on a short-handed breakaway in the third period. But he was stopped.

No matter this night.

Nick Larson had a goal and an assist. So did Jake Hansen. Freshman defenseman Justin Holl had two assists. Junior defenseman Aaron Ness scored his first goal in nearly a year.

Tom Serratore, a wing on the fourth-line centered by Larson, also had a goal.

Larson was named the first star, Hansen the second and goalie Kent Patterson, who stopped 28 of 29 shots, the third.

With the Gophers' victory -- and Colorado College's 4-2 win over North Dakota --- Minnesota and CC remain tied for sixth place but they got a little closer to the top dogs.

First place Denver was idle. So was UMD, tied for second with North Dakota. And the Sioux, of course, didn't pick up any points. Nebraska Omaha, another team above the U and CC played a nonconference game.

Only Wisconsin, which was alone in fifth place, moved a bit. The Badgers beat Michigan Tech 4-2, as expected, and moved into a tie with UNO for fourth place with 22 points, four ahead of the Gophers and CC, tied for sixth.

What a bunched bunch.

DU is still at the top with 27 points.

NoDak and UMD are tied for second at 26.

Wisconsin and UNO are tied for fourth at 22.

The Gophers and CC are tied for sixth at 18.

Should be quite a race down the stretch and maybe, just maybe the Gophers will become a factor if they can string some wins together. After playing UAA again Saturday, they play at UMD, face DU at home and play at Wisconsin. If they can win at home, split on the road and go 5-2 those seven games ...

Trouble is, the Gophers' longest winning streak this season is three games and they are only 6-6-3 at home. So who knows?