The University of Minnesota Gophers have the third most potent offense in college hockey, averaging 4.07 goals per game, and the second best power play (25.1 percent efficiency). Freshman winger Grant Potulny leads the nation in power-play goals with 15.

They aren’t exactly slouches on the defensive end of matters, either. They are the ninth stingiest team in the country (2.54 goals-against average) and their penalty-killing units are fourth best with an 89.5 percent efficiency rating.

It is easy to see why University of Maine coach Shawn Walsh says Friday night’s NCAA Tournament first round opponent, Minnesota, “doesn’t have too many weaknesses.”

But second-year Gopher head coach Don Lucia, who formerly coached at Alaska-Fairbanks and Colorado College, doesn’t expect an easy time of it Friday.

“Nobody has more tournament experience than Maine,” said Lucia. “They’ve played in the last two Frozen Fours and they have a roster full of guys who have been there. We don’t have any who have played in the tournament. And coaching against Shawn will be fun, too. There isn’t a better coach in college hockey. The one thing that has surprised me is they haven’t scored a lot (2.97 gpg).”

The lack of tournament experience has prompted Lucia to emphasize “the importance of every shift. They’ve got to make good decisions with the puck. We can’t beat ourselves this time of year.”

Maine’s high-tempo, pressure-oriented style of game is one Lucia and his Gophers enjoy.

“Playing a team that likes to get up and down the ice helps us. We do better against teams like that than a team like Michigan State which plays a total defense, patient style of game,” said Lucia.

The Gophers are led by senior center Erik Westrum (25 goals, 33 assists), junior defenseman, Hobey Baker Award finalist and all-WCHA first teamer Jordan Leopold (12 & 35), junior center John Pohl (18 & 24) and sophomore center Jeff Taffe (12 & 23). Their freshman class has produced 50 goals and 64 assists.

Potulny, the top freshman, has 20 goals and 11 assists and is the first non-Minnesota native to play there in several years. He is from Grand Forks, N.D.

“And the ceiling hasn’t fallen in yet,” joked Lucia. “It has been a positive. A little diversity is good for the program.”

Leopold, according to Lucia, has become a “great player this year” after showing glimpses of stardom toward the end of last season.

Maine fans will remember the speedy Westrum because he lit the lamp four times in Maine’s season-opening 5-3, 5-4 wins over Minnesota last year. He was an all-WCHA second team pick.

Lucia said his team has “good depth” thanks to the emergence of the freshmen.

“They have come in and scored and we had to have that,” said Lucia, who has received 16 goals and 14 assists from Troy Riddle, 10 & 14 from Matt Koalska and 3 & 16 from rookie defenseman Paul Martin.

Potulny, Riddle and Martin were all-WCHA rookie team selections.

Junior goalie Adam Hauser was a third team all-WCHA pick. He has a 26-11-2 record, a 2.51 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.