Re: Gophers 2013-14 B1G Things To Come!
I really liked the way the team played Thursday, and thought they did most everything right but not capitalize on a couple-three more of the tremendous scoring opportunities that they generated. The Gophers were faster, more skilled and were beating the Badgers to the puck all over the ice that first night, especially early on, and when the final buzzer sounded I was disappointed but thought the team deserved a better fate - a tie at least. But, as Lucia said afterwards, that's hockey sometimes. And I can think of several games that the team had played up until then that they probably deserved to lose, but always seem to pull them out, often surviving some close calls at the end.
But the rematch on Friday was a different thing altogether. Here the Gophers were simply out-worked and out-played for long stretches of the game. If anything, I thought, Wisconsin could have easily won by 3 or 4. Still, with a little luck and the usual stellar goaltending, they were never really out of the game on the scoreboard, but based on how the game was going I had no reason to be optimistic they would get the equalizer and send it to OT.
Despite the recent surge the power play obviously struggled this weekend, and again is cause for concern. To me they rely too much on trying to set up the long one-timer which, unless you have bodies in front, is a low-percentage play. All too often that shot gets blocked or misses, and the puck is cleared the length of the ice. I think the team needs to show a little more patience, control the puck more while moving it quicker but not shooting until there are guys in front ready to deflect it or get the rebound....or work for shots from the slot or the backdoor play.
Would be great to sweep Michigan at home next weekend and get back in the driver's seat for the first-ever Big Ten regular season championship.
I really liked the way the team played Thursday, and thought they did most everything right but not capitalize on a couple-three more of the tremendous scoring opportunities that they generated. The Gophers were faster, more skilled and were beating the Badgers to the puck all over the ice that first night, especially early on, and when the final buzzer sounded I was disappointed but thought the team deserved a better fate - a tie at least. But, as Lucia said afterwards, that's hockey sometimes. And I can think of several games that the team had played up until then that they probably deserved to lose, but always seem to pull them out, often surviving some close calls at the end.
But the rematch on Friday was a different thing altogether. Here the Gophers were simply out-worked and out-played for long stretches of the game. If anything, I thought, Wisconsin could have easily won by 3 or 4. Still, with a little luck and the usual stellar goaltending, they were never really out of the game on the scoreboard, but based on how the game was going I had no reason to be optimistic they would get the equalizer and send it to OT.
Despite the recent surge the power play obviously struggled this weekend, and again is cause for concern. To me they rely too much on trying to set up the long one-timer which, unless you have bodies in front, is a low-percentage play. All too often that shot gets blocked or misses, and the puck is cleared the length of the ice. I think the team needs to show a little more patience, control the puck more while moving it quicker but not shooting until there are guys in front ready to deflect it or get the rebound....or work for shots from the slot or the backdoor play.
Would be great to sweep Michigan at home next weekend and get back in the driver's seat for the first-ever Big Ten regular season championship.
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