The ISU hockey club thinks it will win Nationals this weekend.

Sure, it’ll be tough, considering it must first beat two teams – Michigan-Dearborn and Ohio University – it has already beaten this year, but “to tell you the truth, I just think we have to play our game and no one can really play with us if we do that,” senior forward Mike Gilbertson said.

Getting off shots is the key.

Iowa State had 46 shots on goal to the University of Minnesota’s 19 Saturday night in the Cyclones’ 5-0 exhibition win.

“The best defense is a good offense,” ISU head coach Al Murdoch said.

A good goalie doesn’t hurt though.

Freshman goaltender Brendan Kidd got the shutout.

He played because fellow freshman Ryan Westbrock tended goal in the all-star game in Chicago Saturday afternoon.

“All three of our goalies” – junior Jason Valenta is the third – “are superb,” senior forward Mike Gilbertson said. “I’m not afraid to have any one of them on the net.”

Gilbertson scored twice in Saturday’s win, both goals in the second period.

He normally skates on the fourth line – the line that produced four of the five goals against Minnesota.

“We’re four deep,” Murdoch said.

They had to be Saturday because six players from the 32-8-3 Cyclones, Westbrock included, were in the all-star game. Among them: senior captain, Rob Rose; his co-captain, Jeremy Meyer; and Murdoch’s son, Andrew.

Coach Murdoch doesn’t think Michigan-Dearborn is as potent across the lines as his team, but he believes Ohio University to be.

What helps him and his coaching staff is watching these teams play a day before the Cyclones have to – Iowa State begins on Thursday, Michigan-Dearborn and Ohio University Wednesday.

“And if I were a betting person, I would put us up against Penn State [No. 1 ranked team in the tournament] on day three,” Murdoch said.

A heady statement, but one he stands by.

“I think the guys are pretty pumped. They know they can take it to a higher level still,” Murdoch said.

The level attained against Minnesota was enough to dominate effortlessly.

At the start of the second period, it was 1-0 Iowa State after forward Eric Biskner put his shot under the legs of Minnesota goalie Ryan Donovan with 9:47 left.

Gilbertson scored twice, then Biskner scored again with 4:25 left in the second period on a break away, making it 4-0 Iowa State.

Defenseman Phil Hummel scored the final goal with 3:07 left in the game.

“We had lots of shots. Lots of rebounds. Lots of offense,” Mudoch said. “But at the same time we were pretty stingy. That was a nice shutout by Brendan Kidd . Our defense is taking away the high percentage shots . and the forwards are back-checking real well.”

Captain Rob Rose attended the game and felt the same way.

“We came out flying, shooting the puck hard. I think that’s going to be a key to success [to winning the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championship],” he said.

“A lot of the teams in this national tournament play the same way we do: pretty aggressive,” Gilbertson said. “I’d say we’re probably the most aggressive in terms of – we really believe in reckless abandon, just going all out.”