After No. 1-ranked Minnesota's 7-1 demolition of visiting UAA on Saturday night, count the ways the Gophers humbled the Seawolves in the four-game season series between the Western Collegiate Hockey Association teams:
• Minnesota racked three wins and one tie against UAA.
• Minnesota outscored UAA, 17-6.
• Minnesota went a ridiculous 10 for 20 on the power play compared to UAA's 1 for 13 with the man advantage.
• Minnesota outshot UAA 125-70, including a 31-13 advantage Saturday.
• Minnesota handed UAA its most lopsided loss of the season with Saturday's victory.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but Minnesota sophomore winger Kyle Rau, who bagged a hat trick Saturday at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, scored six goals against UAA this season, matching the Seawolves' entire output against the Gophers. Four of Rau's goals against UAA came on the power play.
And so it is that UAA (3-13-4, 1-12-3), which sits last in the 12-team WCHA, now is saddled with eight consecutive losses, which matches the fifth-longest losing streak in 34 seasons of Seawolves hockey.
UAA has been outscored 30-10 in its losing streak, and Saturday's loss marked the sixth time in those eight losses the Seawolves have mustered one goal or none
The Seawolves also continued a trend of taking major penalties. Junior center Matt Bailey, who accounted for UAA's only goal, was issued a major penalty for boarding late in Saturday's game.
UAA, which surrendered the game-tying and game-winning goals while short-handed late in Friday's 4-3 loss after Tyler Currier received a major for checking from behind, has been hit with a major penalty five times in the last six games and eight times in 20 games this season.
Minnesota (16-3-3, 8-3-3 WCHA) jumped on UAA for a 2-0 lead in the first period, using Seth Ambroz's even-strength goal and Rau's power-play deflection 2 minutes, 5 seconds apart to build that cushion.
The Gophers, who have won five straight games and are unbeaten in their last eight games (7-0-1), outshot the Seawolves 12-2 in the opening 20 minutes.
Bailey got the Seawolves on track in the opening minute of the second period, deflecting Kory Roy's shot to cut the Gopher lead to 2-1.
But Minnesota answered with second-period goals from Zach Budish and Rau. Rau wrapped his hat trick in the third period and Nate Condon added two goals. Minnesota defenseman Nate Schmidt furnished four assists.
Seawolves notes
Freshman defenseman Chris Williams assisted on Bailey's goal for his first career point.
UAA returns home to entertain Minnesota State-Mankato in games Friday and Saturday at Sullivan Arena. The Mavericks include freshman goaltender Stephon Williams of Fairbanks and senior center Eli Zuck of Anchorage.
Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.
UAA 0 1 0 -- 1
Minnesota 2 2 3 -- 7
First Period -- 1, UM, Ambroz 7 (Parenteau), 9:55; 2, UM, Rau 11 (Schmidt, Bjugstad), 12:00 (pp). Penalties -- Holl, UM (tripping), 5:25; Naslund, UAA (hooking), 11:30.
Second Period -- 3, UAA, Bailey 4 (Roy, Williams), :36; 4, UM, Budish 7 (Warning, Schmidt), 9:29; 5, UM, Rau 12 (Warning, Schmidt), 19:16. Penalties -- Currier, UAA (tripping), 3:03; Serratore, UM (interference), 5:34; Bailey, UAA (tripping), 17:04.
Third Period -- 6, UM, Rau 13, 5:34; 7, UM, Condon 7 (Warning, Schmidt), 12:07 (pp); 8, UM, Condon 8 (Ambroz, Alt), 13:47. Penalties -- Marshall, UM (tripping), 3:07; Bailey, UAA (boarding), 10:56; Helgeson, UM, double minor-misconduct (roughing), 15:49; Crowell, UAA, double minor-misconduct (roughing), 15:49; Bailey, UAA, major-game misconduct (boarding), 17:07.
Shots on goal -- UAA 2-6-5--13. UM 12-7-12--31.
Power-play Opportunities -- UAA 0 of 3. UM 2 of 5.
Goalies -- UAA, Gunderson, 1-6-4 (31 shots-24 saves). UM, Wilcox, 15-2-3 (11 shots-10 saves); Shibrowski, enter 12:07 3rd period (2-2).
A -- 9,607 (10,000). T -- 2:14.
Referees -- Chris Perrault, Tom Sterns. Assistant referees -- Brandon Polich, Jeff Schultz.
By DOYLE WOODY