The BYU hockey team will go into the regional playoffs this weekend with momentum from a 13-3 win over Utah on Saturday.

Coach Ed Gantt said the game helped the team develop the belief that they can score. The Cougars scored their first three goals in their first five shots.

"It seemed like everything we threw at the net went in," Gantt said. "It'll be important for us to go to regionals with the confidence that we can score."

Junior Ben Shugart and senior Derek Battisti scored three goals each Saturday night in Salt Lake.

Battisti said the team tried to prepare for the playoffs by catering their game to the things they will see against Denver this Friday.

"We need to work on playing all three periods and do that against Denver next weekend," Battisti said.

Shugart said the Cougars also focused on playing a strong defensive system in Saturday's game.

"All of the focus on solid defense turned into a lot of good scoring opportunities on offense," Shugart said.

He said the team needs to work on keeping that focus for the regional playoffs this weekend.

"When we, as a team, are all focused on playing the same system and the same level of discipline we always do really well," Shugart said.

He said it is easy to lose that focus when things are going well for the team and they need to "focus on staying focused."

How the Regional Tournament Works

BYU is part of the western region in division two of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

Each region sends four teams to the national tournament at the end of March. The two top-ranked teams earn automatic byes into nationals.

The regional playoffs determine the other two teams that will play in March. Six teams will vie for those two positions this weekend.

"The first day of games is some of the most intense hockey you'll ever see," Gantt said.

The two teams that win their games both Friday and Saturday will be the two that earn a spot in nationals.

All of the teams that win their game Friday will play each other Saturday. The highest ranked winner will face the lowest ranked winner. The teams that lose Friday will also play each other Saturday.

BYU will go into the playoffs ranked No. 8 and their first game will be against No. 5 Denver.

Copyright Brigham Young University 19 Feb 2008