Perennial power Minnesota has opened the WCHA season 0-3-1, with all three losses via shutout. The Gophers were blanked 3-0 on consecutive nights by Denver over the weekend, which forced a long look into the record book.

The last time Minnesota was shut out in back-to-back was during the 1929-30 season when it played the Tulsa Athletic Club to a 0-0 draw and dropped a 2-0 decision to Wisconsin.

In their four games, the Gophers have had the lead for 1 minute, 18 seconds out of a possible 245.

"It's not time to beat on them,'' Minnesota coach Don Lucia said of his players, 20 of whom are NHL draft picks. "It's a long season.''

Milestone alert: Denver coach George Gwozdecky spent last week battling the H1N1 virus, or swine flu. It's reasonable to assume he felt much better after the Pioneers swept Minnesota, giving him his 500th career win.

Gwodecky, a former Wisconsin winger, is No. 9 among active coaches.

Flesh wound: When Minnesota State-Mankato coach Troy Jutting met with the media after a 3-2 victory over Wisconsin Saturday night, the collar of his white shirt was drenched in blood and a Band Aid was under his right ear.

Seems he got clipped by a stick on the bench and didn't think anything of it until he felt blood running down his neck.

Looking on the bright side: Michigan Tech allowed Colorado College to convert eight of 14 power plays while getting swept in Colorado Springs. When the teams skated 5-on-5, the Huskies outscored CC 5-2.

The week ahead in the WCHA: Minnesota tries to get untracked hosting Alaska-Anchorage, Mankato plays at Denver and St. Cloud State travels to Tech.

Stepping out with the Pairwise Rankings in mind: Minnesota-Duluth hosts a non-conference series with Clarkson from the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Hockey League, while Wisconsin hosts New Hampshire from the Hockey East Association.

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